What is your blind spot?

Last week I discussed the inability of many to speak up about something incongruous and stupid due to social pressures, real or imagined.

The other extreme of this is having a blind spot.

People are generally motivated to view themselves in a positive light and biases are viewed as undesirable. We tend to think of our own perceptions and judgments as being rational, accurate, and free of bias when analysing our own decisions and positions.

However, when we are made aware of various biases acting on our perceptions, decisions or judgements, research has shown that we are still unable to control them. This contributes to the bias blind spot, as even if someone is told that they are biased, they are unable to alter their biased perception.

Our blind spots are the points in life where we cannot possibly perceive of any other legitimate way of viewing a particular idea or approach. The left can’t understand the right, and the right can’t see the value in the left.

Our blind spots cause us to negate contrary opinions and nullify the people who hold them. We become incapable of seeing any legitimacy in opinions and lifestyles different to our own.

Everyone is guilty of this, from the most fundamentalist ‘religo’ to the most fundamentalist atheist.

Although the blind spot is not ‘curable’, it can be treated. But like alcoholism, it requires the person to first acknowledge that they have a problem before it can be addressed.