"Secondly, because the persona is held in place with personal pride and self respect, we subconsciously develop a very powerful aversion to being ridiculed within our peer group. This has the overall result of greatly limiting our ability to question the taught versions of subjects like history, religion, science and so on. To challenge them seriously, no matter what the evidence, is to potentially provoke ridicule, and thus cause pain."
I think many of us react negatively to unfounded criticism. I know if I'm provoked to respond emotionally, I'm more inclined to further dig in to resist the new thoughts.