Many authors have written about the harm of oversimplification, pointing out that it distorts reality, leads to shallow understanding, impairs problem-solving, and fuels biases. In culture wars, it promotes tribalism and exacerbates polarization.

The most damaging effect of oversimplification on individual psychology is the contraction of the sense of self, especially identity. For example, the answer to the ancient question, “Who am I?” should be a novella, not a word or a phrase or a social media bio. The inherent self-doubt of narrow identity impairs self-validation and drives us to seek hollow validation from people who don’t know us.

Mirror reflections, whether in actual mirrors or from using other........

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