<p>This topic seems to be about <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cognitive dissonance</a> and the success or futility in one's chosen way of settling the discomfort. <strong>Cognitive dissonance</strong> is the stress that occurs when beliefs, feelings, and perceptions contradict in some way. Common strategies to relieving cognitive dissonance are <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalization_(psychology)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rationalisation</a>, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias" rel="nofollow noreferrer">confirmation bias</a>, and perhaps <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_suppression" rel="nofollow noreferrer">thought suppression</a>.</p>
<p>Beliefs and feelings are distinct phenomena. <strong>Beliefs</strong> stem from experience and inference, and are <em>semantic</em> in nature. <strong>Feelings</strong> stem from fitness of beliefs, needs, wants, and fears with perceived or hypothetical circumstances, and are <em>emotive</em> in nature. If some belief or feeling has been suppressed, it may resurface in the form of cognitive dissonance or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrusive_thoughts" rel="nofollow noreferrer">intrusive thoughts</a>. This is especially likely when under high <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_load" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cognitive load</a>. Another place suppressed thoughts are likely to show is in the content or theme of dreams -- a phenomenon termed <strong>dream rebound</strong>.</p>
<p>The negative experience described in the question results not from the belief itself, but the <em>fitness</em> of the belief with something else -- likely another belief, desire, or perception. For example, if one believes that only persons with type X body are attractive, and one perceives oneself as lacking this body type, then one may experience mental discomfort.</p>
<p>One thing to consider is the <strong>origin of the belief</strong> -- in this case the belief that only body type X is attractive. If one can trace back how it came to be, one may no longer hold it so tightly. In practice, many beliefs come about through <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialization" rel="nofollow noreferrer">socialisation</a>, or taking in the norms of society, family, and other circles. Sometimes, as was given in the example in the question, a person may choose to identify with a different subgroup or selection of people, so as to procure a different set of cultural norms against which to compete.</p>
<p>There are of course cases where a belief may itself be irrational. This is particularly common in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety_disorder" rel="nofollow noreferrer">anxiety disorders</a>, but it may also occur in cases of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusion" rel="nofollow noreferrer">delusion</a> or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder" rel="nofollow noreferrer">body dysmorphic disorder</a>, among others. Such belief can be especially troublesome to overcome. If the belief stems from an underlying pathology, treating the illness may help to bring clarity. One popular treatment method is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cognitive behavioural therapy</a>. This may help to resolve irrational thought patterns, or <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_distortion" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cognitive distortions</a>. Another method is <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_restructuring" rel="nofollow noreferrer">cognitive restructuring</a>, which seeks to reappraise and reformulate automatic thoughts through rational rebuttal.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-20T23:28:12.020Z
What is "fitness of belief"?
Brian
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-21T15:16:09.310Z
@TrystwithFreedom -- *"fitness"* was supposed to apply to the full list *"beliefs, needs, wants, and fears".* Basically I was saying that if any of these conflicts with perceived circumstances, there will likely be feelings as a result. For example, say that one *needs* sleep but circumstances suggest that sleep is not a reasonable option. This would likely result in stress. Say one *wants* to eat something but *believes* it would be unhealthful. This too would bring feelings -- perhaps sadness. Really any disagreement between beliefs, needs, wants, fears, and perceptions can bring feelings.
Michael
CC BY-SA 4.0
2023-01-20T19:08:01.193Z
2023-01-20T19:08:01.193Z
Michael
<p>Let's say for instance there is some topic <span class="math-container">$Y$</span>, and maybe one has  some negative feelings about it. And, one doesn't feel good that they feel negatively about <span class="math-container">$Y$</span>, so they make a concious effort to feel postively about it. In turn, they end up feeling positively about it by some rationalizing or whatever, but for some reason, they become subconciously impaired (I become moody, irritable, depressed).</p>
<p>Example:</p>
<p>A person becomes insecure about their body image. To support, maybe they rationalize to themself people who judge based on looks only are not worth it, and hence ease their mental pain. Yet, slowly, they may feel mentally depressed due to the subconcious thought of it. It maybe remarked, that they would easily be able to root the reason for their sadness if asked enough.</p>
<p>So, what are the procedure available for one to overcome subconcious beliefs?</p>

<cognitive-psychology><subconscious>
How does one overcome negative subconcious beliefs?
Brian
# How does one overcome negative subconcious beliefs?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2023-01-19)

Let's say for instance there is some topic $Y$, and maybe one has some negative feelings about it. And, one doesn't feel good that they feel negatively about $Y$, so they make a concious effort to feel postively about it. In turn, they end up feeling positively about it by some rationalizing or whatever, but for some reason, they become subconciously impaired (I become moody, irritable, depressed).

Example:

A person becomes insecure about their body image. To support, maybe they rationalize to themself people who judge based on looks only are not worth it, and hence ease their mental pain. Yet, slowly, they may feel mentally depressed due to the subconcious thought of it. It maybe remarked, that they would easily be able to root the reason for their sadness if asked enough.

So, what are the procedure available for one to overcome subconcious beliefs?

**Tags:** cognitive-psychology, subconscious


---

## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2023-01-20. Score: 1 | Accepted answer

This topic seems to be about [cognitive dissonance](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_dissonance) and the success or futility in one's chosen way of settling the discomfort. **Cognitive dissonance** is the stress that occurs when beliefs, feelings, and perceptions contradict in some way. Common strategies to relieving cognitive dissonance are [rationalisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rationalization_(psychology)), [confirmation bias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confirmation_bias), and perhaps [thought suppression](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thought_suppression).

Beliefs and feelings are distinct phenomena. **Beliefs** stem from experience and inference, and are *semantic* in nature. **Feelings** stem from fitness of beliefs, needs, wants, and fears with perceived or hypothetical circumstances, and are *emotive* in nature. If some belief or feeling has been suppressed, it may resurface in the form of cognitive dissonance or [intrusive thoughts](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intrusive_thoughts). This is especially likely when under high [cognitive load](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_load). Another place suppressed thoughts are likely to show is in the content or theme of dreams -- a phenomenon termed **dream rebound**.

The negative experience described in the question results not from the belief itself, but the *fitness* of the belief with something else -- likely another belief, desire, or perception. For example, if one believes that only persons with type X body are attractive, and one perceives oneself as lacking this body type, then one may experience mental discomfort.

One thing to consider is the **origin of the belief** -- in this case the belief that only body type X is attractive. If one can trace back how it came to be, one may no longer hold it so tightly. In practice, many beliefs come about through [socialisation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialization), or taking in the norms of society, family, and other circles. Sometimes, as was given in the example in the question, a person may choose to identify with a different subgroup or selection of people, so as to procure a different set of cultural norms against which to compete.

There are of course cases where a belief may itself be irrational. This is particularly common in [anxiety disorders](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anxiety_disorder), but it may also occur in cases of [delusion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delusion) or [body dysmorphic disorder](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_dysmorphic_disorder), among others. Such belief can be especially troublesome to overcome. If the belief stems from an underlying pathology, treating the illness may help to bring clarity. One popular treatment method is [cognitive behavioural therapy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy). This may help to resolve irrational thought patterns, or [cognitive distortions](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_distortion). Another method is [cognitive restructuring](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_restructuring), which seeks to reappraise and reformulate automatic thoughts through rational rebuttal.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: What is "fitness of belief"?  
> **username_1**: @TrystwithFreedom -- *"fitness"* was supposed to apply to the full list *"beliefs, needs, wants, and fears".* Basically I was saying that if any of these conflicts with perceived circumstances, there will likely be feelings as a result. For example, say that one *needs* sleep but circumstances suggest that sleep is not a reasonable option. This would likely result in stress. Say one *wants* to eat something but *believes* it would be unhealthful. This too would bring feelings -- perhaps sadness. Really any disagreement between beliefs, needs, wants, fears, and perceptions can bring feelings.  

---

