leisure-rules t1_j37b802 wrote
Reply to comment by clairelecric in Our ability to resist temptation depends on how fragmented one's mind is | On the inconsistencies in one’s mental setup by IAI_Admin
It’s not doing away with fragmentation, but a way to reduce it in hopes of reducing the temptations that conflict our self-image. He proposes to decrease the value we place on a fixed self-image as a means to reduce fragmentation of the mind. If I hold firm to the belief that “I am a vegetarian” but I consistently feel tempted to eat meat, the fragmentation caused by that dichotomy further fuels to temptation to eat meat. But if I step back and accept that maybe my belief in being a vegetarian isn’t as fundamental as I taught myself to believe, the fragmentation and subsequent temptation of eating meat diminishes.
clairelecric t1_j37bm67 wrote
I see. In psychodynamic language this would fall under defenses, such as splitting and denial. I want to deny negative qualities in myself, or aggression for example, so I do something unconsciously to make myself think I’m just good and for instance other people are bad (non vegetarians). Defenses almost always lead to problems. So this isn’t really new.
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