Convincing oneself that something is good












1














Sometimes we want to believe something so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.



Is there a term for this?



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  • It's probably not exactly right, but I'd be likely to call it wish fulfillment
    – FumbleFingers
    May 7 '15 at 13:52
















1














Sometimes we want to believe something so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.



Is there a term for this?



Best










share|improve this question






















  • It's probably not exactly right, but I'd be likely to call it wish fulfillment
    – FumbleFingers
    May 7 '15 at 13:52














1












1








1







Sometimes we want to believe something so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.



Is there a term for this?



Best










share|improve this question













Sometimes we want to believe something so badly that we convince ourselves that it is true.



Is there a term for this?



Best







meaning obscure-terms






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked May 7 '15 at 13:46









rodms

1515




1515












  • It's probably not exactly right, but I'd be likely to call it wish fulfillment
    – FumbleFingers
    May 7 '15 at 13:52


















  • It's probably not exactly right, but I'd be likely to call it wish fulfillment
    – FumbleFingers
    May 7 '15 at 13:52
















It's probably not exactly right, but I'd be likely to call it wish fulfillment
– FumbleFingers
May 7 '15 at 13:52




It's probably not exactly right, but I'd be likely to call it wish fulfillment
– FumbleFingers
May 7 '15 at 13:52










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















3














? self-delusion,



"A clear case of self-delusion... "He was suffering from self-delusion, he knew, but...



"He knew he was deluding himself, but he headed for the meeting any way."






share|improve this answer































    2














    You can be said to be deluding yourself




    verb (used with object), deluded, deluding.




    1. to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive:
      His conceit deluded him into believing he was important.


    www.dictionary.com







    share|improve this answer





























      1














      If you're looking for a more technical term, cognitive dissonance could work. It's a psychological term for when people hold two conflicting beliefs (such as when they learn something that contradicts what they believe to be true) and must attempt to reconcile them.



      One method of doing this, the belief disconfirmation paradigm, involves "misperception, rejection or refutation of the [new] information" (Wikipedia). In other words, people choose to keep believing what they initially believed, even in the face of evidence that their initial belief is wrong.



      A similar concept is choice-supportive bias, which causes people to focus only on the positive aspects of something they have chosen, while ignoring any negative aspects of it. This helps reconcile any cognitive dissonance brought about by the conflicting beliefs "I chose X because I want it" and "X has undesirable qualities."






      share|improve this answer





























        1















        Rationalize:



        “attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or
        attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true
        or appropriate.”



        ‘she couldn't rationalize her urge to return to the cottage’




        [Oxford Living Dictionaries]






        share|improve this answer










        New contributor




        Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
        Check out our Code of Conduct.


















        • Hi Kev, welcome to EL&U. If you quote someone else's words, it's essential that you acknowledge the source. It's not only polite to give the original author credit, it also avoids the more serious charge of plagiarism. As it's your first post, I've edited it to add the source and a link, and I've added an example from the same source. For further guidance, see How to Answer and take the EL&U Tour :-)
          – Chappo
          4 hours ago











        Your Answer








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        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes








        4 Answers
        4






        active

        oldest

        votes









        active

        oldest

        votes






        active

        oldest

        votes









        3














        ? self-delusion,



        "A clear case of self-delusion... "He was suffering from self-delusion, he knew, but...



        "He knew he was deluding himself, but he headed for the meeting any way."






        share|improve this answer




























          3














          ? self-delusion,



          "A clear case of self-delusion... "He was suffering from self-delusion, he knew, but...



          "He knew he was deluding himself, but he headed for the meeting any way."






          share|improve this answer


























            3












            3








            3






            ? self-delusion,



            "A clear case of self-delusion... "He was suffering from self-delusion, he knew, but...



            "He knew he was deluding himself, but he headed for the meeting any way."






            share|improve this answer














            ? self-delusion,



            "A clear case of self-delusion... "He was suffering from self-delusion, he knew, but...



            "He knew he was deluding himself, but he headed for the meeting any way."







            share|improve this answer














            share|improve this answer



            share|improve this answer








            edited May 7 '15 at 14:06

























            answered May 7 '15 at 13:56









            Hugh

            7,2561836




            7,2561836

























                2














                You can be said to be deluding yourself




                verb (used with object), deluded, deluding.




                1. to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive:
                  His conceit deluded him into believing he was important.


                www.dictionary.com







                share|improve this answer


























                  2














                  You can be said to be deluding yourself




                  verb (used with object), deluded, deluding.




                  1. to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive:
                    His conceit deluded him into believing he was important.


                  www.dictionary.com







                  share|improve this answer
























                    2












                    2








                    2






                    You can be said to be deluding yourself




                    verb (used with object), deluded, deluding.




                    1. to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive:
                      His conceit deluded him into believing he was important.


                    www.dictionary.com







                    share|improve this answer












                    You can be said to be deluding yourself




                    verb (used with object), deluded, deluding.




                    1. to mislead the mind or judgment of; deceive:
                      His conceit deluded him into believing he was important.


                    www.dictionary.com








                    share|improve this answer












                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer










                    answered May 7 '15 at 13:56









                    Marv Mills

                    10.8k42154




                    10.8k42154























                        1














                        If you're looking for a more technical term, cognitive dissonance could work. It's a psychological term for when people hold two conflicting beliefs (such as when they learn something that contradicts what they believe to be true) and must attempt to reconcile them.



                        One method of doing this, the belief disconfirmation paradigm, involves "misperception, rejection or refutation of the [new] information" (Wikipedia). In other words, people choose to keep believing what they initially believed, even in the face of evidence that their initial belief is wrong.



                        A similar concept is choice-supportive bias, which causes people to focus only on the positive aspects of something they have chosen, while ignoring any negative aspects of it. This helps reconcile any cognitive dissonance brought about by the conflicting beliefs "I chose X because I want it" and "X has undesirable qualities."






                        share|improve this answer


























                          1














                          If you're looking for a more technical term, cognitive dissonance could work. It's a psychological term for when people hold two conflicting beliefs (such as when they learn something that contradicts what they believe to be true) and must attempt to reconcile them.



                          One method of doing this, the belief disconfirmation paradigm, involves "misperception, rejection or refutation of the [new] information" (Wikipedia). In other words, people choose to keep believing what they initially believed, even in the face of evidence that their initial belief is wrong.



                          A similar concept is choice-supportive bias, which causes people to focus only on the positive aspects of something they have chosen, while ignoring any negative aspects of it. This helps reconcile any cognitive dissonance brought about by the conflicting beliefs "I chose X because I want it" and "X has undesirable qualities."






                          share|improve this answer
























                            1












                            1








                            1






                            If you're looking for a more technical term, cognitive dissonance could work. It's a psychological term for when people hold two conflicting beliefs (such as when they learn something that contradicts what they believe to be true) and must attempt to reconcile them.



                            One method of doing this, the belief disconfirmation paradigm, involves "misperception, rejection or refutation of the [new] information" (Wikipedia). In other words, people choose to keep believing what they initially believed, even in the face of evidence that their initial belief is wrong.



                            A similar concept is choice-supportive bias, which causes people to focus only on the positive aspects of something they have chosen, while ignoring any negative aspects of it. This helps reconcile any cognitive dissonance brought about by the conflicting beliefs "I chose X because I want it" and "X has undesirable qualities."






                            share|improve this answer












                            If you're looking for a more technical term, cognitive dissonance could work. It's a psychological term for when people hold two conflicting beliefs (such as when they learn something that contradicts what they believe to be true) and must attempt to reconcile them.



                            One method of doing this, the belief disconfirmation paradigm, involves "misperception, rejection or refutation of the [new] information" (Wikipedia). In other words, people choose to keep believing what they initially believed, even in the face of evidence that their initial belief is wrong.



                            A similar concept is choice-supportive bias, which causes people to focus only on the positive aspects of something they have chosen, while ignoring any negative aspects of it. This helps reconcile any cognitive dissonance brought about by the conflicting beliefs "I chose X because I want it" and "X has undesirable qualities."







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered May 7 '15 at 14:15









                            Nicole

                            9,48473784




                            9,48473784























                                1















                                Rationalize:



                                “attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or
                                attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true
                                or appropriate.”



                                ‘she couldn't rationalize her urge to return to the cottage’




                                [Oxford Living Dictionaries]






                                share|improve this answer










                                New contributor




                                Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                                • Hi Kev, welcome to EL&U. If you quote someone else's words, it's essential that you acknowledge the source. It's not only polite to give the original author credit, it also avoids the more serious charge of plagiarism. As it's your first post, I've edited it to add the source and a link, and I've added an example from the same source. For further guidance, see How to Answer and take the EL&U Tour :-)
                                  – Chappo
                                  4 hours ago
















                                1















                                Rationalize:



                                “attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or
                                attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true
                                or appropriate.”



                                ‘she couldn't rationalize her urge to return to the cottage’




                                [Oxford Living Dictionaries]






                                share|improve this answer










                                New contributor




                                Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.


















                                • Hi Kev, welcome to EL&U. If you quote someone else's words, it's essential that you acknowledge the source. It's not only polite to give the original author credit, it also avoids the more serious charge of plagiarism. As it's your first post, I've edited it to add the source and a link, and I've added an example from the same source. For further guidance, see How to Answer and take the EL&U Tour :-)
                                  – Chappo
                                  4 hours ago














                                1












                                1








                                1







                                Rationalize:



                                “attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or
                                attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true
                                or appropriate.”



                                ‘she couldn't rationalize her urge to return to the cottage’




                                [Oxford Living Dictionaries]






                                share|improve this answer










                                New contributor




                                Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.










                                Rationalize:



                                “attempt to explain or justify (one's own or another's behavior or
                                attitude) with logical, plausible reasons, even if these are not true
                                or appropriate.”



                                ‘she couldn't rationalize her urge to return to the cottage’




                                [Oxford Living Dictionaries]







                                share|improve this answer










                                New contributor




                                Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                share|improve this answer



                                share|improve this answer








                                edited 4 hours ago









                                Chappo

                                2,59541225




                                2,59541225






                                New contributor




                                Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.









                                answered 17 hours ago









                                Kev

                                111




                                111




                                New contributor




                                Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.





                                New contributor





                                Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.






                                Kev is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
                                Check out our Code of Conduct.












                                • Hi Kev, welcome to EL&U. If you quote someone else's words, it's essential that you acknowledge the source. It's not only polite to give the original author credit, it also avoids the more serious charge of plagiarism. As it's your first post, I've edited it to add the source and a link, and I've added an example from the same source. For further guidance, see How to Answer and take the EL&U Tour :-)
                                  – Chappo
                                  4 hours ago


















                                • Hi Kev, welcome to EL&U. If you quote someone else's words, it's essential that you acknowledge the source. It's not only polite to give the original author credit, it also avoids the more serious charge of plagiarism. As it's your first post, I've edited it to add the source and a link, and I've added an example from the same source. For further guidance, see How to Answer and take the EL&U Tour :-)
                                  – Chappo
                                  4 hours ago
















                                Hi Kev, welcome to EL&U. If you quote someone else's words, it's essential that you acknowledge the source. It's not only polite to give the original author credit, it also avoids the more serious charge of plagiarism. As it's your first post, I've edited it to add the source and a link, and I've added an example from the same source. For further guidance, see How to Answer and take the EL&U Tour :-)
                                – Chappo
                                4 hours ago




                                Hi Kev, welcome to EL&U. If you quote someone else's words, it's essential that you acknowledge the source. It's not only polite to give the original author credit, it also avoids the more serious charge of plagiarism. As it's your first post, I've edited it to add the source and a link, and I've added an example from the same source. For further guidance, see How to Answer and take the EL&U Tour :-)
                                – Chappo
                                4 hours ago


















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