Self-deception can be both problematic and useful, helping us cope with challenges while also leading to dangerous beliefs.
Delusions in areas like national identity and social norms can shape our perceptions and behaviors, creating positive social environments.
Emotions play a role in influencing our beliefs and behaviors, highlighting the complex interplay between perceptions, rationality, and self-deception.
Deep dives
Self-deception: A Bug and a Feature
Self-deception is both a bug and a feature in our lives. It is a special category where it can be both problematic and useful at the same time. Self-deception can help us cope with difficult situations and provide comfort. For example, the delusion of parental love allows us to navigate the challenges of parenting. However, self-deception can also lead to dangerous beliefs and actions, as seen in conspiracy theories and extremist ideologies. The line between beneficial and harmful self-deception is context-dependent and hinges on whether it affects others.
The Power of Delusions
Delusions can be beneficial in several areas of our lives. The delusion of national identity, for instance, allows us to work together as a unified group and accomplish great things. Similarly, social norms and good manners, which can be considered as forms of self-deception, help maintain harmonious relationships and create a positive social environment. These delusions shape our perceptions and behaviors, shaping our experiences and interactions with the world.
The Complex Role of Emotions
Emotions play a multifaceted role in our lives, influencing our beliefs and behaviors. They act as defense mechanisms, helping us navigate difficult situations and providing comfort in times of vulnerability. Emotions can also influence our perceptions and judgments, leading to delusions and biased thinking. While positive moods can make us more susceptible to accepting beliefs without questioning them, negative moods can make us more skeptical. Understanding the complex interplay between emotions, perceptions, and rationality is crucial in navigating the influence of self-deception.
The Subjectivity of Perception and the Role of Privilege
Perception is subjective, and our understanding of the world is shaped by our individual experiences and beliefs. Privilege plays a significant role in shaping our perceptions and the delusions we adopt. Recognizing our own privilege and how it influences our view of the world can help us approach differing perspectives with empathy and understanding. It also raises questions about the nature of reality and the subjective nature of our perceptions, highlighting the importance of self-reflection and open-mindedness when evaluating our beliefs.
Believing in the best of our loved ones
Studies show that when it comes to romance and love, it is better to believe that our partners are more beautiful, intelligent, compassionate, and kind than they actually are. Holding positive beliefs about our partners not only leads to happier relationships, but also increases the likelihood of staying in those relationships. Our beliefs about our partners can become true, influencing our perceptions and experiences in the relationship.
The value and power of useful delusions
Delusions can be beneficial in certain contexts. They can provide comfort and soothe anxiety in challenging times, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Music, in particular, has the ability to evoke powerful emotions and change our moods, highlighting the ways in which our brains are wired to respond to external stimuli. Delusions can also shape our experiences and perspectives, influencing how we perceive the world. While some delusions can be harmful, such as those involving denial or false beliefs, there are instances where they can enhance our well-being and resilience.
Shankar Vedantam is the host of the wildly popular podcast, Hidden Brain and esteemed author of the book Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain. We initially interviewed Shankar in mid 2021 but want to highlight this discussion for you again as it is one we still discuss in more recent episodes.
Before reading Shankar’s book and interviewing him for this podcast we were, as Shankar describes himself, card-carrying rationalists. We were firmly in the camp of believing rational, scientific findings and believing that lies and deception are harmful to ourselves and to our communities. However, Shankar walks us through a compelling argument, that paradoxically, self-deception actually plays a pivotal role in our happiness and well-being.
In our discussion with Shankar we cover:
(6:38) Speed round questions.
(11:04) The difference between self delusions being useful and being harmful.
(16:23) How nations are a delusional construct.
(23:00) Awareness of self-delusions and how daily gratitudes can shift our perspective of the world.
(25:56) Shankar’s personal story of delusional thinking.
(29:58) The role emotions play in our mood and delusions.
(35:23) How avoidance of delusional thinking is a sign of privilege.
(37:30) Why our perceptions play an important role in understanding delusions.
(44:36) Shankar’s unique approach to conspiracy theories.
(52:28) What music Shankar has been listening to during COVID.
(52:15) Grooving Session and Bonus Track with Kurt and Tim.
We really hope you find Shankar’s unique insight on how delusions are useful as compelling as we did. If you’re a regular Behavioral Grooves listener, please consider supporting us through Patreon. Thank you!
