Tightly Held Values, Loosely Held Beliefs

Tightly Held Values, Loosely Held Beliefs

From More In Common by More In Common Podcast

May 1, 2026 · 32 min · Episode 232

About this episode

The episode explores the relationship between tightly held values and loosely held beliefs, focusing on identity and the implications of defending beliefs.

Tightly held values. Loosely held beliefs. This week Keith and Gerren close out a three-episode arc on identity, truth and the cost of being right. The question driving it all: what are you actually protecting when you defend a belief? And what happens when you build your identity around values instead of roles, labels and group memberships? They get into identity-protected beliefs and why evidence doesn't break through them, the Kahan paradox, AA's complicated success rate and what it tells us about how change actually works, and why the asymmetry between marginalized and dominant groups matters when we talk about identity protection. Plus — Keith defines his own identity on mic in a way that might make you rethink yours. Key Topics: Identity-protective cognition, the Kahan paradox, AA and the value of imperfect solutions, defining identity beyond roles, tightly held values vs. loosely held beliefs. Resources Mentioned: 📚 AA Research → https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3860574/ 🧠 Identity Protective Cognition → https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Identity-protective_cognition Find Us: 🌐 https://www.moreincommonent.com 📸 https://www.instagram.com/moreincommonent 🐦…

People in this episode

Hosts: Keith, Gerren

Topics covered

  • identity
  • truth
  • beliefs
  • identity-protective cognition
  • Kahan paradox
  • AA success rate
  • values vs beliefs

Keywords

  • identity
  • beliefs
  • values
  • Kahan paradox
  • AA
  • identity-protective cognition
  • change
  • marginalized groups
  • dominant groups

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: AA

Books & works: AA Research, Identity Protective Cognition

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