Blokkeringsovertuigingen

Blokkeringsovertuigingen, literally “blocking beliefs” in Dutch, is a label used in cognitive psychology and critical thinking discourse to describe beliefs that impede or slow the revision of one’s views in light of new evidence. It is not a formal diagnosis; rather it denotes a pattern in which convictions persist even when confronted with credible disconfirming information.

The phenomenon arises from interactions among cognitive, emotional, and social processes. Mechanisms include confirmation bias, where people favor supportive information; cognitive dissonance reduction, which minimizes discomfort from conflicting data; motivated reasoning, which interprets evidence in a way that protects prior beliefs; and identity protection, where beliefs are tied to group membership or self-image. Selective attention and memory biases further entrench the beliefs over time.

Blokkeringsovertuigingen can influence decisions in health, politics, science, and everyday life, and may contribute to polarization, resistance to new guidelines, and the spread of misinformation. The strength of blocking beliefs often correlates with the emotional stakes of the issues and with the degree of social reinforcement from peers or institutions.

Contributing factors include a need for certainty, a desire to avoid cognitive discomfort, and the protection of valued identities. External environments—such as echo chambers, biased media, or persuasive messaging—can reinforce blocking tendencies by rewarding certainty and rapid conclusions rather than nuanced revision.

Mitigation involves fostering critical thinking and reflective reasoning, presenting new information in accessible form, emphasizing uncertainty where appropriate, and engaging trusted messengers. Encouraging dialogue, exposing individuals to diverse viewpoints, and teaching metacognitive strategies can help increase openness to updating beliefs when warranted.