This is very similar to cognitive dissonance, which is essentially when someone has a rigid belief system or acceptance of a concept, but when presented with indisputable facts which counter that belief or concept, the person is confronted with an uncomfortable truth which they can't deny (that's the dissonance). However, they won't allow themselves to let go of that previously held belief so they will therefore morph that new information into something that fits it so that it continues to make sense to them. Basically the person will twist facts to make them fit their belief. We see this a lot when people do their best to marry science with religion, such as when someone studies science with the thought in the back of their mind of "How would God fit into this?" only to come up with a way in their mind for it to work, sometimes outlandishly.
Great post, you got me thinking. ;-)