Self-deception occurs because we often see the world the way we would like it to be, rather than the way it is, author Harry C. Triandis, professor emeritus of psychology, writes in his new book, “Fooling Ourselves: Self-Deception in Politics, Religion and Terrorism” (Praeger Publishers).
Across cultures and around the world, self-deception is a phenomenon that has subtle and profound effects on everyday life, said Triandis, also former president of the International Association of Cross-Cultural Psychology. In the book, he not only explains how and why self-deceptions occur in three areas – politics, religion and terrorism – but also how to recognize and reduce the frequency of fooling ourselves. Insights include consideration of personal and societal self-deceptions, as well as extensive understanding of how politics, ideologies and religions can frame “reality” for us in a way that it is, in our minds, warped so the stage is set for self-deception.
The book will be of special interest to general readers drawn to politics and religion, as well as scholars of psychology, anthropology and sociology.
This book presents a worldview that is universal: The purpose of life is to help as many people as possible be physically and mentally healthy, happy, long-lived and environmentally conscious. Actions that are inconsistent with these four criteria are considered to be “immoral.” That makes much of what people do immoral, and Triandis presents evidence that materialism, the population explosion and the role of television in democracies create problems that need to be solved. He stresses the principle of “nothing in excess,” which requires modest living – a lifestyle Triandis believes is going to be a necessity if Earth is to be preserved.
“A classic example of how self-deception can affect public policy is the debate on global warming where failure to acknowledge the importance of overpopulation leaves us with inadequate answers,” Triandis said.
Triandis presents evidence to suggest that self-deception is universal and affects people from all backgrounds, and he reveals a simple test that allows anyone to know when they are fooling themselves.
“In my book I suggest that having too many cognitively simple self-deceptions is often not good for us. But on the other hand, research shows that it is all right to have them sometime,” Triandis said. “Let us face it: The world is complex, but it is our hope, need and desire that it be simple.”