Columbus and Belief Perseverance

Columbus has been proclaimed to be many things in the last five hundred and twelve years, some claims less credible than others. In addition to being a navigator and explorer, he’s has been named an egoist, a persuasive speaker, a racist, a hero of Calvinism before his time, and a symbol of unyielding courage during the American Revolution. Indeed, every description of the man that sailed across an ocean before oceans were recognized reveals no sign of doubt in mind or in his decisions. Yet all of these descriptions point to a common thread, a phenomenon psychologists call “belief perseverance.” 

Belief Perseverance is the concept of persisting with one’s initial ideas even when those ideas may have been proven false or discredited. In other words, despite what anyone said or whatever happened during the course of his journey, Columbus knew he was right. He knew he would find support for his expedition. He knew he could find a western route to the Indies. He knew he would find plentiful amounts of gold. His assertions affected his judgment so deeply it became the very center of his being, and thus his personality traits, actions taken, and accomplishments reflect that center. Belief Perseverance, then, is integral to the success of Columbus.