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Self-deception, social desirability, and psychopathology

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 February 2011

Antonio Preti  and
Paola Miotto
Antonio Preti
Affiliation:
Centro Medico Genneruxi, Cagliari, Italy, and Chair of Clinical Psychology, University of Cagliari, Italy. [email protected]
Paola Miotto
Affiliation:
Department of Mental Health, ULSS 7, Conegliano (TV), 31015, Italy. [email protected]
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Abstract

Social desirability can be conceived as a proxy for self-deception, as it involves a positive attribution side and a denial side. People with mental disorders have lower scores on measures of social desirability, which could depend on cognitive load caused by symptoms. This suggests that self-deception is an active strategy and not merely a faulty cognitive process.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 34 , Issue 1 , February 2011 , pp. 37
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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