Tom Leu "seeing things" … perspectives on music, marketing, & motivation

what do you call it?

What do you call it when you have strong beliefs and you want something to be true (for you)… so during your ensuing research and investigation (if any), you either consciously or subconsciously filter and interpret the information you find to support your preconceived notions?

From a sociological and psychological perspective, this phenomenon is called social constructionism. All it means is that some thing or concept which may appear to be natural and obvious to those who accept it, is in reality, merely an invention of a some particular group or culture.

The idea is that social constructs are human choices or preferences rather than universal laws. People form beliefs based on their socialization, experiences, preferences, and assumptions, and then institutionalize them as traditions; eventually declaring them as facts – and possibly even laws.

This socially constructed reality is said to be a “re-produced reality” usually carried out, and passed on, by good-intentioned people acting on their human interpretations of their experiences. Technically, social constructionism is actually a form of ethnocentrism or bias.

So how would the actual scientific validity of these viewpoints and findings fare? And if these findings and views were actually skewed or prejudiced in some way, does that mean then that they are not, or cannot be true?

But if they are true (for you)… should they be true for everyone?

For no one?

Can faith (in anything) be measured and/or proven? Some say so.

What say you?

“Miracles don’t prove faith, they’re invitations to faith.” – Unknown

©2009 Tom Leu