[di meliora]

Neel Burton, M.D., a psychiatrist, philosopher, discusses self-deception in two articles here: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...ationalization and here: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/...n-ii-splitting.

The first article talks of rationalization as a form of cognitive dissonance he labels sour grapes and sweet lemon. The second article speaks of an ego mechanism known as splitting.

Burton relates how sour grapes, sweet lemons and splitting are not ideal ways of dealing with the world and problem solving. I enjoy Burton's work and hope to benefit from it.

I have 'The Folly of Fools', by Robert Trivers, on my to read list. He asserts that self-deception is an evolutionary adaptation when lying is a beneficial trait in social groups; those who lie to themselves are better at convincing/lying to other people.

I 'spose I'll put 'Hide and Seek - The Psychology of Self-Deception' by Neel Burton on that list too.