Why do people find it hard to question their convictions?

Question

Why do people find it hard to question their convictions?

Answer 1

For fear of being wrong.

Answer 2

I think fear is at the heart of it. What if you don't like what you see? Pride is hard to overcome. Maybe some people really do believe they are right and there is no reason to question their convictions. I don't know. I'm forever questioning myself or so it seems so this isn't a problem for me but I do wonder if I overdo it.

edit: Bertrand Russell: The trouble with the world is that the stupid are cocksure and the intelligent full of doubt.

Maybe there is some truth to that? This is supposed to be funny, not supposed to be mean.  It might be that some people don't know or realize that they should question their convictions. Not all of our thoughts are correct. I would say that goes for our beliefs as well.

Answer 3

Because we invest a LOT of emotional energy in our convictions; we partly define outselves by them; changing one requires changing, not just the one belief, but innumerable others, that are all tied into it, presuppose it.

Thus, it's hard, both conceptually, and emotionally.

It's usually unpleasant to realize one has been wrong.

Answer 4

Because people base almost everything on their convictions and their preceptions of reality.  People base the way they treat others, the people that they love, even the clothes that they wear based on their convictions.

If you someone were to really examine their convictions and find flaws, it would literally unfold the fabric of their reality.  Some people are strong enough to examine their convictions, while some others are not.  Some enjoy the challenge and love change.  Others are terrified and seem stubborn in the face of overwhelming evidence that they were mistaken.

Answer 5

People generally don't fear convictions. It's the thought of having believed something so long and finding out that you were wrong is the kicker. Let's say as a child you were told that the sky wasn't blue. You believe this even though others have given you every logical reason that it is. When there is an admittance to the truth of the sky being blue, where do you go from there?

Sometimes it's safer for people to believe a lie than the truth.

Confronting fears of being wrong is hard for the mind to wrap around.

If people were really that grounded in their beliefs, they they should have no problem questioning AND answering their convictions.

One last thing that may be a large factor: fear of the unknown.

Answer 6

Since convictions are pretty well entrenched by definition, people are always going to be reluctant to reach down and revise them let alone go for a radical change.  No one wants to be "wrong".