How important is it to see yourself clearly, to be able to assess your strengths and weaknesses accurately? Maybe not as important as you might think, some researchers say.
In the July 30 Wall Street Journal, Sue Shellenbarger reports on research that looks at ways people deceive themselves to in order to feel better about themselves. Studies show, for example, that people tend to think that they are smarter, better looking, and easier to get along with than they really are.
The research brings to mind earlier studies of “depressive realism” -- the concept that depressed people are more accurate in assessing some situations, while non-depressed people displayed more “positive illusions.” We all use psychological defenses to avoid facing up to unpleasant things, and perhaps when we’re depressed, those defenses are less sturdy.
People who have studied self-deception say that a little bit of it can be good for you. Overestimating your strengths and downplaying your weaknesses may spur you to take on new challenges. In contrast, ruthlessly assessing your deficits and minimizing your strengths may hold you back.
Too much self-deception, though, can be harmful. Politicians are a good illustration of this. If you run for office, you have to be a little self-deceiving. You have to believe that you are the person most qualified person to solve the problems of thousands or millions of people. You have to shake off a lot of criticism and harsh attacks -- even if it’s all true. Yet history has proven over and over again that politicians’ self-deception can border on delusional -- most colorfully when they commit ethical misdeeds believing they have no risk of being caught. Self-deception, like most other character traits, exists on a continuum. Some is good, but too much can be destructive.
In the July 30 Wall Street Journal, Sue Shellenbarger reports on research that looks at ways people deceive themselves to in order to feel better about themselves. Studies show, for example, that people tend to think that they are smarter, better looking, and easier to get along with than they really are.
The research brings to mind earlier studies of “depressive realism” -- the concept that depressed people are more accurate in assessing some situations, while non-depressed people displayed more “positive illusions.” We all use psychological defenses to avoid facing up to unpleasant things, and perhaps when we’re depressed, those defenses are less sturdy.
People who have studied self-deception say that a little bit of it can be good for you. Overestimating your strengths and downplaying your weaknesses may spur you to take on new challenges. In contrast, ruthlessly assessing your deficits and minimizing your strengths may hold you back.
Too much self-deception, though, can be harmful. Politicians are a good illustration of this. If you run for office, you have to be a little self-deceiving. You have to believe that you are the person most qualified person to solve the problems of thousands or millions of people. You have to shake off a lot of criticism and harsh attacks -- even if it’s all true. Yet history has proven over and over again that politicians’ self-deception can border on delusional -- most colorfully when they commit ethical misdeeds believing they have no risk of being caught. Self-deception, like most other character traits, exists on a continuum. Some is good, but too much can be destructive.
