Maus Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 If an otherwise intelligent, educated, aware person seems to be deliberately, though subconsciously, choosing not to be aware of what's really going on in a particular situation (I'm assuming there is some kind of emotional pain avoidance going on in the situation I'm thinking of), is there a nice, succinct word for that thought pattern? I was thinking "deliberately oblivious," but that doesn't seem subconscious enough to describe what I think it's going on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Denial. Denial can be conscious or unconscious in nature. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Yep, denial. It is one of the most common defense mechanisms. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandelion Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Denial was my first thought as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harriet Vane Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Denial. It can be a truly powerful force, defying all logic as well as evidence. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joanne Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 "Defense mechanism" would be the more clinically used word. Depending on the cirsumtances, there might be specific behavioral components (trauma, PTSD, addiction, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieMarie Posted July 21, 2013 Share Posted July 21, 2013 Maybe it is situation involving cognitive dissonance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maus Posted July 22, 2013 Author Share Posted July 22, 2013 Maybe it is situation involving cognitive dissonance? Denial works, but I think cognitive dissonance might be the word I was looking for. thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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