Self-deception

[ciphergoth]

Is self-deception always bad? Are there any beliefs so dear to you that, in a world where they weren't true, you would prefer to go on believing them?

Update: very interesting answers so far, I hope I get to hear from lots more of you!

Comments

[lizw.livejournal.com]

I think I'd rather only believe things that are true (and for that reason, I rather hope that the small 1960s study that Ben Goldacre sometimes cites on the placebo effect, which suggested that it might work even without deception, turns out to be right.)

[ciphergoth.livejournal.com]

Of course, it might work without deception precisely because of the existence of that study :-)

[lizw.livejournal.com]

*grin* Perhaps it's fortunate that the study hasn't had much press - it should be easy enough to recruit a control group who haven't heard of it.