Denial temporarily shields people from unbearable truth like a cast on a broken limb, but this protective peace is fragile if left unaddressed.

Evidence

The Power of Denial: How One of Our Strongest Defense Mechanisms Shapes Reality (Dynamic Colorado Springs)

Categorization

• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim
• XREF: connects to: A deliberately insulated peace can be shattered instantly by a single intrusive truth — Julien Gracq, Balcony in the Forest, 88; People experiencing cognitive dissonance often avoid or reinterpret contradictory information rather than abandoning their beliefs when confronted with truth. — Festinger’s Law; Suppressing truth hinders personal and social development. — Jordan B. Peterson, 12 Rules for Life An Antidote to Chaos, 642 (+1 more)

Related

• Denial operates unconsciously and is only effective as protection while it remains outside conscious awareness; once confronted, the defense fails. (similarity 0.84)
• People experiencing cognitive dissonance often avoid or reinterpret contradictory information rather than abandoning their beliefs when confronted with truth. (similarity 0.80)

Broader Connections

• Denying a bigotry’s existence enables it to spread unchecked #expands (0.75)