A User Manual To American Cognitive Dissonance

A User Guide To Help You See Mess

Note: This is just an exercise in understanding American Cognitive Dissonance. You’ll see these archetypes online or even replying to you on Instagram someday, but I believe it will be insightful to average moderately worried person.

1. The Self-Exemption Reflex

Profile: They are convinced they are the exception, the “aware ones,” the moral middle, the balanced mind in a sea of extremists.
Cognitive Dissonance: “I’m not part of the problem” vs. “I live exactly like the problem.”

They watch collapse like weather.

They post warnings but change nothing that would cost them comfort.

They whisper “at least I see it,” as if awareness were repentance.

They confuse guilt for growth.

They think reflection is resistance.

They are the mirror, terrified to look back.