The term “noble art of self-deception” is often used to describe the way in which we all engage in some degree of self-deception in order to protect our self-esteem or to cope with difficult realities. This type of self-deception can be harmless, even beneficial, in some cases. For example, we might tell ourselves that we are not as bad as we really are, or that we are capable of achieving something that we are not, in order to give ourselves the motivation to try. However, self-deception can also be harmful, if it leads us to make poor decisions or to avoid dealing with important issues.
Having said the above, there are many different ways in which we can self-deceive ourselves. Some common techniques include:
Selective attention
We focus on information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that contradicts them.
Distortion
We reinterpret information in a way that makes it more consistent with our beliefs.
Minimisation
We downplay the importance of negative information or events.
Attribution
We blame our failures on external factors and our successes on our own abilities.
Forgetting
We simply forget about information that is inconsistent with our beliefs.
The extent to which we engage in self-deception varies from person to person. Some people are more prone to self-deception than others. However, it is important to remember that everyone engages in some degree of self-deception.
The “noble art of self-deception” can be a double-edged sword. It can be used to protect our self-esteem and to cope with difficult realities. However, it can also lead us to make poor decisions or to avoid dealing with important issues. It is important to be aware of our own tendencies to self-deceive and to try to be as objective as possible in our thinking.