The Power of Attention and Self-Deception

Self-deception occurs through the power of directing attention. Attention can be directed to make something more salient, which then captures our attention. The more attention we give to something, the more salient it becomes, leading to a self-reinforcing cycle. This can lead to self-deception as the salience and catchiness of a stimulus can overtake concern for truth or reality, causing us to lose the capacity to notice other things.