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

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

Oh absolutely - I second that. But then I am cynical most of the time.

A CBT practitioner needs to be very careful not to impose his/her views on the subject. In some ways I see it as self brain washing. I choose not to feel like this when that happens because I am thinking something. I am going to try to think something else and hopefully feel different.

Sadly we cant always change the world - and when the problem is the people in it you rarely cant.

[ludy]

true. And it's good that people are as mentally healthy as possible in an imperfect world. I just get grumpy at how CBT gets pushed as an answer to pretty much everything without there being very much critical thinking around it.

[alexmc.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, I'm still not satisfied with my original comment. What I failed to explain is that CBT is largely about identifying your own unhelpful beliefs and replacing them with more helpful beliefs.

Is either belief self-deception? I dont know.