What Does Emotion Teach Us About Self-Deception? Affective Neuroscience in Support of Non-Intentionalism

Abstract

Intuitively, affect plays an indispensable role in self-deception’s dynamic. Call this view “affectivism.” Investigating affectivism matters, as affectivists argue that this conception favours the non-intentionalist approach to self-deception and offers a unified account of straight and twisted self-deception. However, this line of argument has not been scrutinized in detail, and there are reasons to doubt it. Does affectivism fulfill its promises of non-intentionalism and unity? We argue that it does, as long as affect’s role in self-deception lies in affective filters—that is, in evaluation of information in light of one’s concerns (the affective-filter view). We develop this conception by taking into consideration the underlying mechanisms governing self-deception, particularly the neurobiological mechanisms of somatic markers and dopamine regulation. Shifting the discussion to this level can fulfill the affectivist aspirations, as this approach clearly favours non-intentionalism and offers a unified account of self-deception. We support this claim by criticizing the main alternative affectivist account—namely, the views that self-deception functions to reduce anxiety or is motivated by anxiety. Describing self-deception’s dynamic does not require intention; affect is sufficient if we use the insights of neuroscience and the psychology of affective bias to examine this issue. In this way, affectivism can fulfill its promises

Autoengaño Y Mentira en Adolescentes: Personalidad Y Autoestima / [Self-Deception and Lying in Adolescents: Personality and Self-Esteem]

“…se inhibe y no dice lo que verdaderamente piensa; reconoce que miente; y encuentra en ocultar y mentir un comportamiento aceptable (actitud). Estos resultados destacan el papel indispensable que las emociones juegan en la dinámica del autoengaño (Ellsworth, 2013;Lauria y Preissmann, 2018).…”

“…Es un mecanismo de protección y adaptación del "yo", que persigue, en última instancia, "salvaguardar el orden psíquico". Destacamos así, el papel indispensable que las emociones juegan en la dinámica del autoengaño (Correira, 2014;Echano, 2017;Ellsworth, 2013;Lauria y Preissmann, 2018).…”