This Experiment Proves We are All Prone to Self-Delusion and Self-Deception

In one of my last blogs, I explained how during a trip to Frank Sinatra’s house in Palm Springs, California, I had an epiphany which started my 20-year journey to find out why we humans are so prone to addiction, depression, bad habits and self-deception. I summarize my findings in my recently published book, which references the following well-known experiment about the prevalence of self-delusion and self-deception in humans.

Basically, because human brains are driven by concepts, we easily conform to conceptual norms set up by our social groups, and we form herds, cults and mobs. One well-known scientific study in this area is Asch Conformity Experiments directed by psychologist Solomon Asch. In the experiment, groups of eight male college students participated in a simple “perceptual” task to decide which of the three lines on the right has the same length as the line on the left.

In reality, all but one of the participants were actors trying to fabricate consensus on a wrong answer to bias the remaining participant (the real test subject). The true focus of the study was to evaluate how the remaining participant (always voting last) would react in his/her “decision making” process, and whether s/he remained objective and independent or conformed to the actors’ “herd behavior” and group bias (the erroneous fabricated consensus).

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The correct answer is “C.” When people were alone (in the control group), with no group consensus and pressure to conform to actors, the error rate on the critical stimuli was less than 1%. In other words, when alone or in the absence of group consensus (pressure), 99% of participants acted objective and chose C. The study, however, shows that overall 75% of participants gave at least one incorrect, conformity-biased answer when subjected to group bias and pressure. Only 25 percent of the participants were independent objective thinkers who consistently defied the majority’s fabricated nonfactual opinion.

In his opinion regarding the study results, Asch put it this way: “That intelligent, well-meaning, young people are willing to call white black is a matter of concern.”

If we look around or check human history, we find countless examples of the Asch self-deception effect, from crusades, wars, witch hunts and mob lynchings to modern day politically-driven mass hysteria (like McCarthyism), cancel culture and racism.

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This was originally posted on my website and then in my book: Masks, Crutches and Daggers: The Science of our Self-Delusional, Addictive Homo economicus Brain. I spent two years to draw from the latest discoveries in a wide range of disciplines — Neuroscience, evolution, biochemistry, psychology, economics, physics, philosophy, nutrition, and even mysticism — to understand the roots of self-delusion that plague human lives, rich and poor alike. The book is an essential simplified scientific “user manual” for our brain and body and how they communicate (feedback Loops), balance (for health), or burn out (for disease). I believe I have identified the common denominator of disease, disorder, disparity and discord (fights, divorces, lawsuits, riots, wars) that plague our lives. Here is the book’s introduction on Amazon’s Hot New Release in Behavioral Psychology (the book’s promotional sales at 23% OFF ends this week):

A Simple Practical Guide to How Your Brain and Body Communicate (Feedback Loops), Balance (Health), or Burn Out (Disease)

Most of us know more about sports, politics, games, apps, and our jobs than about how our own brain and body work or get burned out together. For less than the cost of a family dinner, this is one of the few books in the market that can help us understand in simple language the complex nature of body-brain feedback loops as the common denominator of disorders and diseases (such as diabetes, hypertension, weight gain, dementia, sleep disorders, constipation, infertility), and discords (fights, divorces, lawsuits, riots, wars). The author has spent two years to ingeniously draw from the latest discoveries in a wide range of disciplines: Neuroscience, evolution, biochemistry, psychology, economics, physics, philosophy, nutrition, and even mysticism to help us understand the roots of fatigue and imbalance that plague human lives, rich and poor alike. This book is an essential simplified scientific “user manual” for our brain and body. The world’s largest battles are fought inside human minds and today most of us suffer from abuse not by others but by our own brain. Why do humans walk such a tight rope between depression and addiction (habituation), anxiety and recklessness? Why is it so hard to kick bad habits? Why are several countries now have Ministries of Loneliness to keep the social fabrics from falling apart? Why are humans so prone to self-delusion, self-deception, and forming mobs and cults? In this book, we learn, in simple language, about the neurochemical soup that makes our brain prone to metabolic imbalance and leads to pursuit of unfettered growth. "The sky is the limit" thinking has constructed a world of winners, losers and barely anyone in between.

A Unique Book and Author

Today self-censorship is the main form of censorship that constrains and compromises sponsored writings and speeches. The scientific insight and life stories shared in this book are candid, uncensored and heartfelt, shared by an author who is an independent scientist philosopher, and a freelance educator living by his motto "Guided by Conscience, Not Mobs!" A graduate of University of Michigan and Case Western Reserve University, Ray Armat, Ph.D., is a materials scientist, chemical engineer, former NASA grantee and educator with years of interdisciplinary corporate research, business development and academic experience. He specialized in balancing industrial product formulas but once he realized his own body and mind were imbalanced, he tempered his ambitious career goals to learn more about the human brain and behavior. He shares how he had an epiphany during a stay at Frank Sinatra's original house. As a scientist philosopher, storyteller and educator, he uses a unique and rare blend of real life stories and scientific first principles that govern both natural and industrial processes to find unifying explanations to disease, disorder and discord. The book will be eye-opening and life-changing for many readers.

Independent feedback and insight are gifts. Without sharing them with others, we cannot extend our network of critical thinkers.