No. 299 · Your own mind · Human Nature and Judgement
Denial
When a truth is too painful, we refuse to see it, often until it is too late.
In the Almanac
“The unsinkable ship”, 1912 · “Sears”, 1990s–2018
Both stories in full, three ways to use it and where it misleads.
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Questions
What is Denial?
Denial is our refusal to accept an uncomfortable reality. It acts as a psychological shield against information that threatens our beliefs, self-image or sense of safety. The comfort is temporary: the problem keeps growing while we look away, from the Titanic's ignored warnings to retailers slow to modernise.
How do you use Denial?
Pay attention when you feel the urge to dismiss bad news, because that urge is often a signal. Ask what you would do if the worrying information were true, seek out people who will tell you hard truths, and set clear warning signs in advance so you know when it is time to act.
When does Denial matter?
Denial is one of the 31 mental models for your own mind, the situations where you ask: Is my own thinking leading me astray? Within that, it belongs to “Seeing what you want to see”, alongside Blind Spot Bias, Cognitive Dissonance and Commitment and Consistency Bias.
What is an example of Denial?
Two stories show it at work: The unsinkable ship (1912) and Sears (1990s–2018). Both are told in full in The Mental Models Daily Almanac, which has two stories for each of its 365 models.
Which mental models are related to Denial?
Boiling Frog, Only the Paranoid Survive and Cognitive Dissonance. Denial itself comes from human nature and judgement.