The Next Big Idea Daily S34 E3: "Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain" by Shankar Vedantam & Bill Mesler
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Sep 27, 2023 
Shankar Vedantam, host of 'Hidden Brain,' explores the power of self-deception in human flourishing and its role in fostering happiness and satisfaction within relationships. They discuss how delusional beliefs about our loved ones contribute to our contentment. Additionally, they delve into the usefulness of self-deception on personal, group, and institutional levels, including the concept of nations as delusions. The chapter concludes with the proposition of harnessing self-deception for important causes like fighting climate change.
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Church of Love Scam
- Donald Lowry's Church of Love extracted money from members through love letters.
- Members defended Lowry in court, claiming the letters prevented suicides.
Delusions in Relationships
- Self-deception in relationships, like overestimating a partner's qualities, can increase happiness.
- Acknowledging a 50% divorce rate on one's wedding day, while statistically accurate, is unlikely to foster marital bliss.
Parental Delusions
- Parents often hold delusional beliefs about their children's exceptional qualities.
- This delusion helps them endure the hardships of parenting.