Autoengaño

Autoengaño, also known as self-deception, is a psychological phenomenon where an individual deceives themselves to maintain a belief, attitude, or feeling that is contrary to evidence or reality. It involves a conscious or unconscious process of distorting information, denying facts, or fabricating justifications to avoid unpleasant truths or protect one's self-esteem.

This can manifest in various ways, such as rationalizing poor decisions, minimizing the severity of problems, or believing in unlikely positive outcomes despite negative indicators. For example, someone might ignore warnings about a unhealthy habit, believing it won't affect them, or a student might convince themselves they studied enough for an exam, even when they know they did not.

The mechanisms of autoengaño often involve cognitive biases, such as confirmation bias, where individuals seek out information that supports their pre-existing beliefs and disregard contradictory evidence. Emotional factors also play a significant role, as people may use self-deception to regulate negative emotions like anxiety, fear, or shame.

While autoengaño can offer temporary psychological relief and protect ego, it can also lead to detrimental consequences. It can hinder personal growth by preventing individuals from learning from mistakes, make it difficult to address problems effectively, and damage relationships due to a lack of authenticity. Recognizing and confronting self-deception is a crucial step towards greater self-awareness and healthier decision-making.