Q: What is a paradigm?
A: Twenty cents.
Humor aside, a paradigm is a world-view that functions to bring order and structure that defines "relationships" between elements
It is not too far fetched to say a person's paradigm(s) are like his skeleton. It provides the framework that muscles join to, joints interface between the individual bones, fat and organs hang from it and skin sheaths it.
The "rules" set by the skeleton dictate how the entire system physically navigates through space.
One of the major functions of a person's paradigm is to be a filter. We are drowning in data. In a busy restaurant we are pummeled with dozens of conversations running concurrently, we interacting with the wait-staff and we are keeping an eye on the dodgy people who come schlepping through the doors.
Without a paradigm and its inferred rule-set, we would not be able to discard 98% of the information that we are pelted with and still function. Does 98% sound too high? Consider that you are really only listening to about 20% of what the person you are dining with is saying. 98% of the information being discarded might be a low estimate.
Shifting analogies from a skeleton to a trash-filter in a canal, our paradigms generally only admit information that is in alignment with our "filters". It allows information that confirms our mental-models and automatically rejects any information that is on consistent with our models.
Implications
Suppose you disagree with your boss on an important topic and every time you run across a bit of information that supports your viewpoint, you drop it into an email and send it to her. After sending dozens and dozens of emails, admittedly with some of the info-nuggets only tangentially supporting your opinion, you confront your boss and ask if they have changed their mind.
Guess what. She deleted them and forgot that you sent it thirty seconds later. If it made any impression upon her, it is that you are an ass who eats up her precious time.
The only way to get information through her filters is to overwhelm them with one, huge, crashing, irresistible and undeniable blow. The filters become overwhelmed and collapse. Trickling information simply does not work.
It is very much to your advantage if you information is vivid and hits at a gut-level. Paradigm-filters work well for dry and boring information. They are less well developed for filtering out vivid information.
An example: There are two candidates competing for the seat in Michigan's 7th US District. One candidate is re-running the ads their party ran two years ago, ads that talk about "percents". The other candidate is showing footage of their opponent perspiring and twitchy and all shifty-eyed.
Guess which ad is more likely to drill through undecided voter's paradigm filters? Yep, the one where the candidate looks like a drug-addict in need of a fix trying to scam a little-old-lady.
Wrap-up
Exposing somebody to "truth" is not enough to cause cognitive dissonance.
The "TRUTH" must be a massive boulder that cannot be explained away. It must be uncomfortable and not be going away. It must be a truth that cannot be easily 'splained away by random chance or venial corruption. It must sit cross-wise of the wires in the trash-filter and have enough momentum to crash through them.
Joe your a intelligent optimist.
ReplyDeleteI've found that facts don't change the mind if it will cause distress in the mind of the person.
TDS sufferers (and they don't think they are suffering) are a prime example.
Who said "never try to teach a pig to sing, it. Wastes your time and annoys the pig"
Michael
Seems I lost a comment today :-) Has anybody seen it?
ReplyDeleteJoe you're an intelligent optimist.
“People don’t like to think, if one thinks, one must reach conclusions. Conclusions are not always pleasant.”
― Helen Keller
I've found folks want to hear what supports their own thoughts.
Conflicting thoughts distress a lot of folks so they avoid conflicting thoughts and "dangerous ideas".
TDS folks are a prime example. As is arguing with facts to the "feeeelings" of anti-gun folks.
I think Heinlein said it best:
“Never attempt to teach a pig to sing; it wastes your time and annoys the pig.”
― Robert Heinlein, Time Enough for Love
I might quibble (and be full a beans in doing so)… but a paradigm is the way we perceive information and assemble it to come up with our world view and mission statements. Filters are filters - they are two very separate and distinct animals or constructs. Or - at least they are in rational adults. They are parts of the machine, with the paradigm deciding the machine’s output in some circumstances, the filters taking over in others. In other words, in a rational adult, the paradigm is flexible and complimentary to the filters. In the narcissist both constructs are slaved to the ego, and only the preferred inputs are acceptable to the ego. The narcissist can turn both constructs off if they conflict with the ego.
ReplyDeleteBut I pick nits and shouldn’t, I suppose. When you’re as retarded as I am… fly chit and pepper look a lot alike.
To quote a famous person "...a paradigm is the way we perceive information..." and filtering is subconscious "perceiving". Exzisely where do you draw the line?
DeleteLet me paint a scenario: You are in condition yellow and are on a street with a smattering of other people. The light is starting to fade. Do you pay more attention to the group of young men aimlessly wandering down the street or to to the old granny? You filter the granny out without thinking about it. But that would likely change if you watched granny explode (suicide vest) or if she mugged you (with the help of the young men).
"A conservative is a liberal who has been mugged (or raped or had their daughter murdered)."
"And a liberal is a conservative who's been arrested" (I'm far from being considered a liberal myself)
DeleteYou mean like that famous Progressive, convicted felon Trump?
DeleteLOL weak sauce Anon 11:52
DeleteConvicted by whom? CNN doesn't count. Still in court (like you know the System was DESIGNED to do, Innocent until PROVED GUILTY).
Go back to Comrade Misfits little blog please.