The Armor of Unyielding Beliefs

Our psyche is capable of forming beliefs that act as protective barriers, filtering all incoming information. When people enter the world, many already have preformed judgments through which they perceive everything around them. That is why they notice only the details that confirm their opinions and dismiss any information capable of challenging their views.

The main idea is that for some individuals, an unyielding nature in their beliefs becomes a self-defense mechanism. When someone tries to point out potential mistakes or inconsistencies, such advice is not seen as useful criticism but rather as a threat to their self-image. This leads them, even in the face of compelling evidence, to remain convinced of their own correctness—much like a machine that can only produce one type of output regardless of the material fed into it.

In conclusion, such behavior not only demonstrates stubbornness but also reveals a deep psychological process aimed at preserving inner balance. The inability to accept an alternative perspective allows them to feel secure in their own truth, even when evidence suggests otherwise. This phenomenon is reminiscent of a well-known game where, despite changes in external conditions, the outcome remains unchanged—mirroring the true nature of a person with fixed beliefs.

Why do some people remain unyielding in their convictions, even when they are clearly mistaken?
Some individuals cling to their convictions because of deeply ingrained psychological conditioning, which enables the mind to perceive the world only through the lens of its pre-established judgments. This means they focus exclusively on the aspects that reinforce their point of view while ignoring or rejecting any information that might challenge their correctness. Moreover, in their view, even attempts to highlight an error are perceived not as legitimate criticism but as a threat to their self-image, leading to an absolute reluctance to admit any fault.

This behavior is well illustrated by the following statement:
"He sees the bad even where it does not exist and fails to see the good even when it is clear and obvious to everyone. Elder Paisius of Mount Athos compares such a state to a machine that produces bullets. No matter what material we load into this machine—whether gold, iron, plastic, clay, or chocolate—it still only produces bullets. It is incapable of producing anything else. Similarly, a person with a corrupted mindset sees and finds only that which can be condemned or criticized in any situation, in any person, or in any piece of information. He fails to recognize anything that could be praised or approved. And if someone attempts to point this out or correct him, he refuses to accept his mistake or flaw, viewing his perspective as absolutely right while considering others mistaken and blind to the truth. This curious deception somewhat resembles the notorious shell game."
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Thus, unyielding beliefs serve as a protective mechanism that allows such individuals to maintain inner balance and confidence in their own correctness despite objective evidence to the contrary. This explains why, even when they are clearly wrong, their position remains unaltered.