Content area
Full Text
Abstract
This paper describes the constructs of pathological self-deception (the inability to detect the negative effect of one's own behaviour) and mystification (an extreme form of selfdeception which affects daily life) by way of a brief historical review of the instruments used to evaluate self-deception and desirability. The Self-Deception and Mystification Inventory (IAM-40) is presented for the first time; it is made up of forty items and five factors (insincerity, manipulation, denial mechanisms, an interested perception of reality and mystification). The general objective of this investigation is to validate the Inventory of Self-Deception, including both its general scale and the factors and constructs of selfdeception and mystification, in a study of 159 addict patients (clinical population sample) and 124 general population participants. Significant differences are found, as predicted, between both subpopulations, with a greater level of pathology of all studied indicators in the clinical sample. The clinical existence of self-deception and mystification is concluded. The IAM-40 is also proven to be an adequate and useful instrument for diagnostic purposes and for day-to-day clinical management. The critical discussion is based on a proposal for psychotherapeutic and sociotherapeutic ad hoc treatment.
Key words', self-deception, mystification, desirability, evaluation, psychopathology.
Lies and normal or physiological self-deception are inherent to the human condition. They play a regulatory, or homeostatic, role in psychological protection (Taylor & Brown, 1994; Taylor & Hick, 2007). In this context, the word "lie" alludes to the process of congruency or internal incongruence depending on the response of a subject to a state of urgent need; in other words, the subject usually lies through necessity. However, lying is a communicative and relational fault, which is not socially tolerated: the individual who lies is condemned and isolated (Smith, 2005; Monts, Zürcher, & Nydegger, 1977; Sullivan, 2002). While lying involves deceiving another, self-deception is lying to oneself; it is used to maintain false beliefs or illusions which are very important to the person. Gianetti (2000) describes self-deception as the process of denial or not rationalizing the relevance, meaning or importance of countering the evidence with the argument. In short, self-deception represents an obstacle to authenticity.
Self-deception is not innately pathological. Who can claim that they never deceive themselves? We all have a level, some higher some lower,...