We lie to ourselves to protect our self-images, which allows us to act immorally while maintaining a clear conscience. According to the very latest research, self-deception may have even evolved to help us to persuade others; if we start believing our own lies, it’s much easier to get other people to believe them, too.
“Humans are prone to the principle of least effort, often known as the ‘path of least resistance,’ which means they’ll go for whatever option requires the least work. Hypocrisy allows you to appear principled without having to be so, which is much easier than adhering to strict principles.”
“The male ego can in some cases be tied to how and where a man sees his place in the world and whether he’s living up to expectations — his and those of society.
Cultural stereotypes for men can be intricately tied to both the inflation and deflation of the male ego. Some men measure themselves by the answers to the following questions:
Am I strong enough? Am I wealthy enough? Do I meet the traditional definition of masculinity? Do I attract women? Do I control things or people? Do people recognize me for these things and am I respected and revered for them?”
People often talk about politics and defend or attack political beliefs—especially on social media—because politics is deeply tied to identity, values, and a sense of belonging. Here are a few reasons why it happens so often and so emotionally:
Identity and Belonging: Political beliefs often align with core values and worldviews. When someone challenges those beliefs, it can feel like a personal attack, not just a disagreement.
Tribalism: Humans naturally form groups. Politics can create an “us vs. them” mentality, where defending your side becomes a way of showing loyalty.
Echo Chambers: Social media algorithms tend to show users content they already agree with. This reinforces existing beliefs and makes opposing views seem more extreme or threatening.
Validation and Status: Expressing political views online can be a way to gain approval or respect from like-minded peers. It can also feel empowering to speak out, especially on controversial topics.
Misinformation and Emotional Content: Political content that triggers strong emotions—anger, fear, outrage—gets more attention and shares. This fuels more reactionary and defensive behavior.
Perceived Stakes: People often feel that political outcomes directly affect their rights, safety, or future. That sense of urgency makes discussions more intense.
“In a recent Ditch the Label study, we spoke to 7,347 people about bullying. We asked respondents to define bullying and then later asked if, based on their own definition, they had ever bullied anybody. 14% of our overall sample, so that’s 1,239 people, said yes. What we then did was something that had never been done on this scale before; we asked them intimate questions about their lives, exploring things like stress and trauma, home lives, relationships and how they feel about themselves.”
