“Resilience is often the most commonly observed outcome trajectory following exposure to a potentially traumatic event…negative events do affect us, but they generally don’t affect us as much or for as long as we expect them to.” (167)
Gilbert argues that we often expect bad things to be much worse than we expect them to be and also that they will affect us for longer than they actually will, which I agree with. However, this idea only applies to events in which lessons can be learned and self-improvement can be achieved, which in most scenarios is the case. Though there are many situations where the idea of traumatic experiences not being so traumatic don’t apply; if there is nothing to be learned from an experience, there is nothing to gain and only negatives remain. These events usually have life-long effects. Think of soldiers returning from war, Fran Tarkenton losing 3 Super Bowls, or losing a parent at a young age.
“When people do encounter facts that disconfirm their favored conclusions, they have a knack for ignoring them, forgetting them, or seeing them differently than the rest of us do” (184)
This statement couldn’t be more true. Its nearly impossible to win an argument with someone who already has a heavy set belief in whatever you’re trying to convince them of. Despite the fact that we live in an “Open Society,” a society where anyone can state any opinion of any subject without fear of legal punishment, we are still very closed when dealing with ideas that contradict our own.
Can you think of an event in your life that has negatively impacted you to the extent that you still feel it now? You may not feel “less happy” directly because of it but think of other ways that it may indirectly affect your happiness, i.e. personality, actions.
Do you agree or disagree with Daniel Gilbert’s negative opinion of NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain?
I have no comment on the Wilt Chamberlain example , mainly because I can’t judge someone whom I’m not familiar but drawing from Gilbert’s reference and your own I probably isn’t good.
Referring to your question concerning an event that affected me negatively, I agree that I do feel “less happy” when things that may be associated to it comes up. I feel my focus shift and a dislike for the thing that is associated with it which can in turn negatively affect me in more. I also agree with the quote that you choose. I believe that sometimes this is more of an instinct and it is a way to protect ourselves, also linking with your first quote as well.
I think it is in our nature to do so and it would be quite difficult to look beyond what we only know from out own prospective, to draw our conclusion. A quote I think relates to this is that we had before from Gilbert is that “our experiences instantly become part of the lens through which we view our entire past, present, and future, and like any lens, they shape and distort what we see.” (53).
In terms of resilience, I think you made some great points. It’s something that affects people in numerous ways but the main point would be that we actually do seem to grow in strength in overcoming great tragedies as opposed to less major traumatic events which technically wouldn’t be traumatic. It is because we don’t think we need to overcome those little “potholes” in our lives because we can still somehow progress forward in life without degrading completely.
“A healthy physical immune system must balance its competing needs and find a way to defend us well – but not too well” (177).
What would a life be like if we didn’t say “cook the facts” as Gilbert would refer to it as?