de·ni·al noun \di-ˈnī(-ə)l, dē-\
2 a (1) : refusal to admit the truth or reality (as of a statement or charge) (2) : assertion that an allegation is false b : refusal to acknowledge a person or a thing : disavowal 3 : the opposing by the defendant of an allegation of the opposite party in a lawsuit 4 : self-denial 5 : negation in logic
6 : a psychological defense mechanism in which confrontation with a personal problem or with reality is avoided by denying the existence of the problem or reality — in denial : refusing to admit the truth or reality of something unpleasant <a patient in denial about his health problems>
For example…
Outgoing NSW Labor MP and minister Joe Tripodi, Sky News, Saturday:
“I don’t think the media have been doing the Labor Party any favours since the election of Morris Iemma as premier…
“I think from that point on, both in the last state election and in this state election, they have played a very big role.
“…The reality is the way NSW is being described is not supported by the facts. Australia generally and NSW in particular have been run very well.”
Also known as reason #345 why the swing against the NSW Labor government will come in at more than 16% — one percentage point for every year in office. What symmetry.
Like lancing a boil – then “watching what comes out”?
Dr Harvey M Tarvydas
A seriously interesting editorial for what it says and to what it points.
As per my nick name’s (subtle suggestion) I might be able to add value to your powerful theme.
It is ‘psychology, psychology, psychology is everything’ and, academically, to your enlightened definitions of ‘denial’ I would add the following…..
The first definition refers to a simple wilful lie with full awareness of its nature and what the lie means in denying that something happened or something or someone was.
The second definition very amply refers to a “psychological defence mechanism” far more complex than a simple wilful lie being instead a complex ‘state of mind’ denying that something happened or was where the individuals will is not engaged whether it is one or many individuals suffering this ‘state of mind’ at the same time.
The mechanism solves unmanageable confrontations for the individual or group between the reality (denied) and perceived threat of danger or unbearable identity crisis by the reality when no other escape is available.
The first type is ‘solved’ (as far as its existence goes) on discovery of the ‘truth’ by whomever.
The second type being a state of mind independent to will and intellect of one and all is as solvable or fixable as any other ‘delusion’.
Not, they don’t ‘fix’ they ‘fade’ when the situation changes.
Dr Harvey M Tarvydas
Politicians don’t run public services, public servants do.
The 2000 Olympics (the parts I watched and measured) were a spectacular tribute to the NSW public service.
Politicians as Government set up the possibility (‘infra-structure’ is the common buzz word) with setting or changing legislation to which the public service (created by Government/politicians) responds depending on how it is managed or guided.
“…The reality is the way NSW is being described is not supported by the facts. Australia generally and NSW in particular have been run very well.”
I believe that this is true because once upon a time and recently maybe in patches (like the KK patch that I adore beyond reason) government has been very good.
But to the Tripodi’s it still does serve as evidence of denial and the delusion referred to above rather than proving the opposite.
why do we give tripodi anything but a jail sentence?
Denial is a river in Egypt and that fat bastard should be found on the river bed after the flood.
I still cannot shake the vision of this dishonourable member running around the bear pit squealing like a girl when an indie from the North Coast wanted to break his fat neck for not supporting safety signs near schools.
How did he even get into the Party in the first place?