Definition of "self-deception" [self•-de•cep•tion]

• The act of deceiving oneself or the state of being deceived by oneself. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "Indeed, because there's no such thing as a unified self, just a collection of modules, the very phrase "self-deception" is misleading in the author's view."
• "I applaud the ease and convenience of that answer; too bad I lack the power of self-deception necessary to believe it."
• "Our data provide new perspectives on the role of communication in promoting economic efficiency in social environments, and support economic theories of decision incorporating psychological factors such as guilt, shame, and self-deception."