The Uses of Delusion

What if the lies we tell ourselves are not only harmless but actually help us thrive?

1. Our Minds Love to Defy Logic

Our brains house two systems for making decisions: one intuitive and impulsive, and the other analytical and deliberate. Often, these systems conflict, leading to surprising outcomes. For instance, the "ratio bias" phenomenon shows how people irrationally prefer larger numbers even when probabilities are the same. Choosing a bowl with 10 winners among 100 jelly beans might feel more promising than a smaller bowl with 1 winner among 10, though statistically identical.

Delusions also play a quiet but persistent role in our lives. Sometimes they manifest in harmless fantasies — like thinking a loved one can return after death. Other times, they arise in how we process beliefs, reminding us that rational action isn't always the guiding principle of human behavior. William James' idea of "the will to believe" suggests desires sometimes shape our outlook — a notion tied to Pascal's Wager, which argues faith in God remains rational for its possible eternal rewards.

Psychologist Jonathan Baron furthers this idea by proposing that thinking isn’t just about logical soundness but also achieving goals. Delusions may serve as a tool that helps us persist, overcome hardships and maintain hope in challenging circumstances, revealing their deep connection to human functionality.

Examples

• People favoring "better odds" in the jelly bean experiment
• The comforting belief of anticipating a deceased loved one's return
• Pascal's Wager advocating faith for its benefits despite uncertainty

2. Self-Deception Fuels Confidence

We don't just imagine our futures — we exaggerate them in our favor. Having an overly positive self-view, even unrealistically so, can be more beneficial than harmful. Positive illusions like believing we're uniquely skilled or more in control than we really are uplift our mood and drive motivation. Research even indicates that people with depression lack these "helpful" delusions, possessing a starker — but less functional — reality.

Overconfidence doesn’t merely boost self-esteem. It influences how others perceive us, increasing charisma and persuasiveness. Robert Trivers, an evolutionary biologist, argues self-deception makes us better liars. The more we believe in ourselves, the more we convince others of our strengths, giving us an edge in competitive settings.

That said, there’s a fine line. Too much confidence can lead to reckless decisions. But in daily matters or personal goals, an inflated sense of self frequently supports resilience, allowing us to leap hurdles we might otherwise avoid.

Examples

• Depressed people lacking innate self-enhancing delusions
• Athletes using fierce optimism to intimidate competitors
• Trivers' theory showing self-deception aids in persuading others effectively

3. Rituals Create a Sense of Control

Rituals, even when irrational, bring comfort and structure. Take Barack Obama’s election-day basketball ritual, which didn’t actually impact outcomes but comforted him nonetheless. Rituals like this thrive because they mimic patterns of control, reducing feelings of chaos.

Scientists observe this behavior in other forms, like throwing salt over your shoulder or carrying "lucky" items. These habits might not tangibly change circumstances, but they soothe anxieties and foster cautious behavior. Similarly, religious practices — whether praying or lighting candles — reassure people in uncertain times, creating psychological and social stability through small actions.

On a secular level, rituals’ power lies not in supernatural ideas but in their repetition and focus. They cultivate calm and encourage connectivity, helping bond communities and sustain shared purpose or values. Whether tied to faith or function, their power is undeniable in making people feel safer and reassured.

Examples

• Obama's pre-election basketball ritual offering solace
• Lucky charms adopted for comfort, even with unproven efficacy
• Structured religious practices fostering group harmony

4. Irrational Love Makes Relationships Work

Falling in love often means believing in fairy tales, like soulmates or eternal commitment. These ideas stand in stark contrast to the reality that many relationships face challenges or fail. But adhering to such romantic ideals can nurture commitment, particularly when they inspire both partners to keep trying against odds.

Philosopher Berislav Marušić supports this by stating that sincerity in vows results not from guarantees but from devotion to the possibility of longevity. This kind of optimism, even if unrealistic, becomes a cycle of effort and reward. Interestingly, studies reveal that idealizing your partner — seeing them better than they are — improves satisfaction levels in couples, insulating against everyday dissatisfaction.

Still, love isn't always logical. Most fulfilling relationships shun tit-for-tat exchanges in favor of altruistic, selfless effort. Marriages thrive when partners embrace partnership over fairness, showing a paradoxical success of irrational beliefs in fostering meaningful bonds.

Examples

• Couples thriving by idealizing each other’s strengths
• Cultural narratives around "soulmates" aiding faith in love
• Traditions like public wedding vows enforcing commitment through ritual and community support

5. Dreams Are Productive Delusions

Nighttime dreams are bizarre but aren't just mental noise — they hold value. While ancient thinkers saw dreams as divine messages, modern neuroscience explores their emotional benefits. Research suggests REM sleep consolidates memories and improves procedural learning, while nightmares may prepare us to face stress.

Sigmund Freud believed dreams acted out suppressed desires, but more current views see them as emotion regulators. As strange events occur overnight, our brains often rehearse fears or simulate responses to challenging situations. Whether or not these visions "mean" something, they seem to benefit how we process emotions.

Despite the science, dreams remain one of life’s peculiar mysteries. Whether preparing us for challenges or improving memory, our strange nighttime narratives play a greater role than we realize.

Examples

• Ancient belief systems treating dreams as prophecy
• REM sleep aiding memory consolidation
• Nightmares offering stress rehearsal for real-life problems

6. The Illusion of Free Will

The idea that we consciously control every action may be less true than we like to think. Experiments like facilitated communication show people can believe they’re passively assisting, when in reality they control an outcome without realizing it.

Additionally, Benjamin Libet's studies reveal brain activity occurs moments before we "decide" to act, suggesting unconscious mechanisms guide us. Yet, the perception of free will persists — and it serves a purpose. Believing we have agency helps us define self-identity, set goals, and learn moral lessons from experiences.

This illusion lets us live functional lives. It aligns our motivations with actions and offers meaning, even in a universe potentially governed by deterministic physics.

Examples

• Teachers authentically believing autistic students typed unaided
• Libet’s studies showing brain activity preceding conscious action
• Compatibilism advocating our sense of agency despite determinism

7. Overconfidence as a Key Competitive Advantage

While it doesn’t guarantee success, believing in yourself excessively often provides a strategic edge. A good example appears in competitive sports, where confidence can intimidate opponents on the tennis court or football pitch.

Similarly, delusional confidence helps entrepreneurs take risks others wouldn’t dare — sometimes leading to breakthroughs. But in high-stakes areas such as war or investment, this confidence must balance thorough logic to temper recklessness.

In short, confidence isn’t just personal reassurance. It influences how others see us while giving ourselves the emotional push to deliver under pressure.

Examples

• Tennis players amplifying confidence for psychological warfare
• Entrepreneurs pursuing bold ventures others avoid
• Overconfident visionaries exceeding limits through belief

8. Social Rituals Are More Than Belief

Religious or superstitious practices are often seen as belief-oriented, but research suggests their larger impact comes from the connections they create. In religious groups, gatherings reinforce cohesion, a benefit echoed even in secular “rituals.”

From graduation ceremonies to communal feasts, the intentionality behind shared rituals has less to do with supernatural assumptions and more to do with fostering unity. Such events even reduce dishonesty by promoting accountability among members.

These gathering-based habits are proof that the comfort of tradition doesn't rest only on belief — community bonds play an equal role.

Examples

• Shared church ceremonies improving accountability
• National holidays nurturing collective belonging
• Graduation events highlighting unity and pride

9. Evolutionary Roots of Self-Deception

Psychologically, our delusions might trace back to evolution. Ideas like self-deception or enhanced optimism likely helped early humans survive societal conflicts or secure partnerships.

Trivers argues that self-deception evolved because it made us more convincing in persuading others. Through belief in our fabricated realities, we accessed new advantages unavailable to competing species.

This theory explains not only individual tendencies but also larger cultural narratives, like humanity's need for storytelling. Fiction or faith consolidates shared values, galvanizing collective action.

Examples

• Ancient storytelling unifying tribes through shared ideals
• Social lies fostering group cooperation
• Evolutionary benefits of romantic idealism securing mate loyalty

Takeaways

1. Use small rituals to create routine and reduce stress, even if they seem arbitrary.
2. Embrace positive illusions about yourself to boost confidence and motivation.
3. Interpret dreams or irrational thoughts as tools for processing emotions, rather than distractions.