Learning Changes You

Learning is inextricably linked to constant change. Development of ideas comes with change so does it invite a certain amount of stress, which is nothing but change by the language of chemists. He might be accustomed to specific notions for a long period of time. Having been fixed within his day to day thinking, suddenly he gets deluged with notions conflicting his previous understanding, and this drives one into mental distress, striving to retain his stand. Stirred by these provocations, he restlessly searches for what will fortify his beliefs, and his attitude reflects impetuousness, and this is what they call "confirmation bias".

All of us are subject to this experience, and it is not my concern right now to argue if this reaction is of a positive or negative nature, but I find it more interesting to tackle the subject in a very quick manner on how to deal with people who are in this state (which I may not). People in this situation experience a gush of adrenaline and they are acting in a fight or flight state, for some studies have shown that experiencing shocks that put your beliefs in peril render you in a state similar to that when your life is put in danger. You will easily realize that people in such a situations introduce a strident tone in their voice, while they are rumbling gibberish. It is futile to allow an escalation to go on that way for it will rarely reap any benefit for you or him.

We shouldn't blame that person completely because we might be in a similar situation in which he is in, but rather in a different context. A certain degree of taboo is imparted upon each of us by our culture and upbringing, and it is our endeavor to stultify the power of these taboos upon us. We strive to take a step forward. If we don't want to change our perspective on life in general and specific topics, we shall face every new idea with this psychological struggling that works at a low level with the mere goal of retaining equilibrium and our reactions to any new notion will be of this kind. Le Chatelier's principle applies to our neurological reactions too.