Why We Lie To Ourselves

What is Self-Deception?

Self-deception is the act of fooling yourself into believing something that is not true or denying aspects of reality to avoid discomfort or cognitive dissonance. Signs of self-deception include:

• Rationalizing or justifying your actions or beliefs
• Ignoring evidence that contradicts your beliefs
• Minimizing or dismissing the effect of your behavior on yourself or others
• Avoiding self-reflection or introspection to maintain a preferred self-image