cognitive dissonance

Cognitive dissonance

noun

PSYCHOLOGY

1. the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioural decisions and attitude change.

Compare

LAWRENCE KRAUSS: You’re more likely to be killed by a refrigerator, in the United States, falling on you. — ABC Q&A, 22 May, 2017

MEHDI HASAN: You are also much more likely, as an Australian in Australia, to be killed falling out of bed in the morning than by a terrorist during the day.— ABC ONLINE OPINION 10/7/2017 Australia, your misplaced fear is giving terrorists exactly what they want

JAMES GLENDAY: But the regular attacks in Europe do have a cumulative impact. There's no longer any surprise when they occur.  — ABC NEWS "ANALYSIS" 18/8/2017 Barcelona: Terrorist attacks no longer a surprise in Europe

ABC: where 2 plus 2 = 5 and white vans drive themselves.

A white van has sped down a pedestrian zone in Barcelona's historic Las Ramblas, swerving from side to side as it ploughed into tourists and residents, killing 16 people and injuring 100 in what authorities are calling a terrorist attack.

This is what we know.

• A van mounted the street and drove into pedestrians