Denial, a instinctual reaction to stressful events of life. When confronted by stresses that seem beyond our capability to control or that instill a sense of great fear and trepidation we instinctually enter a state of denial. This is a coping mechanism. It is needed so that we humans can survive the really big events that would trigger the fear of life instinct. Our minds want to block out such stressful and fearful things and this applies to violence, that violence that goes beyond the social monkey dance - true predatory violence.
We tend to encounter things and when they really trigger the instincts toward preservation we automatically enter a world of denial. You see this sometimes when a person is attacked and the drop down into a fetal type position hoping it will go away without the person dying.
In very volatile positions we tend to quickly refocus on more simple tasks and/or daily trivialities. Even intellectuals will display an instinctual tendency toward denial. We see this in martial arts as well, i.e. persons who come to believe in specifics as associated with their system/style and leadership within the system/style. When confronted with the discomfort of being wrong, the insist to remain with the comfort of that questionable belief.
In self-defense we tend to shift our focus away from those things that cause us the greatest stress, fear and trepidations and focus on the easier, simpler and comfortable ways or methods.
It has been said that a warrior in denial is the ultimate manifestation of hubris and pride. No person is more prideful than one who believes themselves immune to the dangers of violence in the world. When we thing to ourselves, "it can't happen to me," we are entering the human instinctual model of denial.
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