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Self-deceived about self-deception: An evolutionary analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 March 1997

Mario Heilmann
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1563 mheilman@ucla.edumheilman@a3.com www.a3.com/myself/

Abstract

Mele's modified definition of self-deception is consistent with evolutionary theory. Self-deception is most likely whenever ignorance confers (reproductive) advantage, namely, in impression management, deception, conformity, social norms, reproductive knowledge, and existential conflicts. Second-order self-deception (unawareness of unawareness) perpetuates self-deception and may be the reason for our misguided definitions.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
© 1997 Cambridge University Press

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