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meow2u3

(24,761 posts)

31. The psychological defense mechanism of splitting

Fri Oct 19, 2012, 06:02 PM

Oct 2012

That's the core of the us vs. them, good guys vs. bad guys mentality.

Allow me to add one of the reasons for such tribalism: splitting. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Splitting_%28psychology%29

From the introduction to the article:

Splitting (also called all-or-nothing thinking in cognitive distortion) may mean two things: splitting of the mind, and splitting of mental concepts (or black and white thinking). The latter is thinking purely in extremes (e.g., goodness vs. evil, innocence vs. corruption, victimization vs. oppression, etc.), and can be seen as a developmental stage and as a defense mechanism.

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Why do people vote against their own self-interests? [View all] superpatriotman Oct 2012 OP

ii think its hard to ascertain what their self interest is loli phabay Oct 2012 #1

Phrasing should be "against their economic/financial self-interest." SharonAnn Oct 2012 #19

against their own self-interests Flashmann Oct 2012 #2

Ignorance pretty much covers... dchill Oct 2012 #3

In general Risen Demon Oct 2012 #4

I simply can't wrap my head around Mad_Dem_X Oct 2012 #5

Maybe because Tansy_Gold Oct 2012 #9

Because her bible tells her to! murray hill farm Oct 2012 #17

Or because her husband tells her so We People Oct 2012 #33

Oh yes! murray hill farm Oct 2012 #41

I don't believe any self-respecting women vote Republican. Mariana Oct 2012 #18

This is the correct answer. Ikonoklast Oct 2012 #43

Good list War Horse Oct 2012 #6

Cultural & Us vs. Them superpatriotman Oct 2012 #7

The psychological defense mechanism of splitting meow2u3 Oct 2012 #31

Self-hatred? ErikJ Oct 2012 #8

Haven't you heard? superpatriotman Oct 2012 #13

"Racism only occurs on the Left, according to Ann Coulter." Jamaal510 Oct 2012 #40

I think that many, many just do not pay that much attention to the big issues. murray hill farm Oct 2012 #10

They are delusional jorno67 Oct 2012 #11

Read Alice Miller's book The Drama Of The Gifted Child. Gregorian Oct 2012 #12

I haven't (and likely won't) read it superpatriotman Oct 2012 #14

Messed up parents raise messed up children. Gregorian Oct 2012 #29

Thanks! superpatriotman Oct 2012 #30

Now that I think of it, I did the book injustice by trying to abbreviate it. There is so much more. Gregorian Oct 2012 #45

I think it's like sadomasochisma. B Calm Oct 2012 #15

Republicans believe they're standing up for the unborn. Qutzupalotl Oct 2012 #16

Except most of them are obviously lying when they say Mariana Oct 2012 #24

that has always confused me too... tulsakatz Oct 2012 #20

Couldn't one argue that a wealthy person voting for certain Dems hughee99 Oct 2012 #26

Too lazy to research the issues on their own. lpbk2713 Oct 2012 #21

Republicans don't believe in democracy meow2u3 Oct 2012 #22

Funny you should ask nichomachus Oct 2012 #23

^ +1,000 upi402 Oct 2012 #38

That concept has been brought up innumerable times on DU, and I think it's silly slackmaster Oct 2012 #25

People will do what they believe will NeuroEcon Oct 2012 #27

I think confirmation bias has something to do with it. Lone_Wolf Oct 2012 #28

I'd say your list sums it up very effectively Populist_Prole Oct 2012 #32

Brainwashed? AsahinaKimi Oct 2012 #34

Because they can? underoath Oct 2012 #35

Bigotry mostly ErikJ Oct 2012 #36

MEDIA propaganda upi402 Oct 2012 #37

single issue voters ThomThom Oct 2012 #39

It is a good question. I have experienced it with friends. Evergreen Emerald Oct 2012 #42

The group vs the self aletier_v Oct 2012 #44

when they have to throw out registration forms warrprayer Oct 2012 #46