Imagine you really want a cookie, but your mom said no. You might tell yourself it's not that good, just to feel better. That’s self-deception! It’s like telling yourself the truth isn’t the truth anymore, and it helps you avoid feeling bad in the moment. Self-deception is when people believe things that aren’t really true, all to feel happier or less stressed.
Examples
- A kid tells themselves the cookie isn’t as good because they wanted it so badly.
- A student says, 'This test wasn’t hard,' even though they got most of the answers wrong.
- An adult believes their job is fine, just to avoid confronting that they might be failing.
Ask a question
See also
- What is Imaginary threat creation?
- How Do Colors Affect Our Mood?
- How Do Dreams Affect Our Memory?
- How Do Dreams Feel So Real Sometimes?
- Did We Really Go to the Moon?