Techniques of Self-Deception Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Section A: Techniques of Self-Deception, detailing Game Book definitions, comparisons, expanded contexts, and criteria for No Technique.

Prejudice

An unwillingness to examine fairly the evidence and reasoning in behalf of the person or thing which is the object of the prejudice, stemming from indoctrination, conditioning, or prior experience.

Prejudice vs. Hasty Generalization

While Hasty Generalization often represents a spontaneous emotional reaction, Prejudice is always of much longer standing with deep emotional support that is often hidden from the person in its grip.

Academic Detachment

Refusing to commit oneself when decision or action is demanded in a situation requiring a stand to be taken, seeing persuasive arguments on both sides instead of deciding on the weight of evidence.

Academic Detachment (Origin)

Named because it is common among academic people trained to postpone decisions until exploring all aspects of a problem, though it is not limited to the college educated.

Academic Detachment (Transferring Decisions)

A form of Academic Detachment where an indecisive person throws or transfers the responsibility of making a required decision onto other people or a vote.

Drawing the Line

Drawing sharp distinctions where it is inappropriate to draw sharp distinctions, reducing a situation with multiple options down to only two choices.

Subclasses of 'Those Who Do Not Tell the Truth'

In the Game Book definition of Drawing the Line, this logical class consists of two distinct subclasses: those who lie and those who say nothing at all.

Not Drawing the Line

Denying the existence of differences just because the differences are small and therefore apparently unimportant.

Conservatism

The habit of mind or temperament of preferring what is old or familiar simply because it is old or familiar.

Radicalism

The habit of mind of preferring the new or the revolutionary just because of its newness.

Moderatism

The habit of mind of habitually choosing middle-of-the-road or compromise ground to avoid two extremes, regardless of whether compromise is virtuous in that instance.

Die-Hard Conservative

An individual who opposes all reforms and innovations regardless of their merits simply because they run counter to old, familiar ways.

Dyed-In-The-Wool Radical

An individual who prefers change purely for the sake of change.

Moderatism in Advertising

A technique in commercial advertising that appears in the guise of combining the best of the old with the best of the new.

Rationalization

Citing reasons or causes that justify an action or belief that really has less creditable grounds.

Rationalization (Mind's Defense Mechanism)

Constructing a reasonable, socially acceptable defense of a belief adopted on emotional grounds as soon as that belief is challenged or criticized.

Rationalization vs. Wishful Thinking

Rationalization deals with excuses for past negative actions or failures, whereas Wishful Thinking adopts an unjustified positive outlook regarding future events.

Wishful Thinking

Believing a proposition to be true simply because you want it to be true, often claiming good outcomes because one feels they deserve it.

Tabloid Thinking

Oversimplifying a complex theory, person's character, or set of circumstances into quick summaries, nutshell statements, or group stereotypes without proposing action.

Human Tabloids

Emotional summary descriptions offered to neatly sum up the entire character of a prominent person in a simple fashion.

Stereotype in Tabloid Thinking

Representing a superficial or trivial trait as being the essential nature of an entire class of people without pushing or proposing action against them.

Tabloid Thinking vs. Prejudice

Tabloid Thinking summarizes a group or person with a stereotype without proposing action, whereas Prejudice involves a judgment that pushes or demands a specific action.

Tabloid Thinking vs. Drawing the Line

Drawing the Line limits options to two choices in a specific situation, whereas Tabloid Thinking makes a broad generalization about a whole group of people.

Causal Oversimplification

Explaining a complex event by referring to only one or two probable causes when many are responsible, or offering a single simple solution to a complicated problem.

Scapegoating

A form of Causal Oversimplification where a complex failure or event is blamed entirely on a single person, play, or cause.

Causal Oversimplification vs. Drawing the Line

Drawing the Line provides two distinct options, whereas Causal Oversimplification reduces a complex problem to a single root cause or simple remedy.

Causal Oversimplification vs. Rationalization

Rationalization explains a specific individual past failure with an excuse, whereas Causal Oversimplification makes a general claim about the sole cause of widespread complex events.

Inconceivability

Declaring a proposition to be false simply because one cannot conceive, imagine, or picture it as actualized or possible of realization.

Pictorial Inconceivability

Declaring an idea or belief false because one cannot picture or imagine it in one's own mind.

Experiential Inconceivability

Declaring a particular idea or belief unsound because all past experience reveals its failure to succeed.

Inconceivability vs. Wishful Thinking

Wishful Thinking is the technique of an optimist expecting a positive outcome without proof, while Inconceivability is the technique of a pessimist unable to imagine a result.

Inconceivability vs. Prejudice

Prejudice stems from long-standing bias against a person or group, whereas Inconceivability relies on explicit expressions of impossibility like 'there is no way that could happen'.

Inconceivability vs. Causal Oversimplification

Causal Oversimplification asserts a single cause for an event, whereas Inconceivability focuses on a speaker's inability to imagine a specific outcome occurring.

No Technique

The correct identification when a speaker gives a valid, relevant, factual, and logically sound reason for a decision, opinion, delay, or boundary.

No Technique (Prejudice Context)

Applies when an objection or recommendation regarding a person is based on relevant, authoritative, or factual qualifications rather than personal or group bias.

No Technique (Academic Detachment Context)

Applies when a person has a valid reason for withholding a vote or decision, such as being new to a school and lacking knowledge of candidate qualifications.

No Technique (Drawing the Line Context)

Applies when setting an explicit limit or threshold is reasonable, necessary, and justified by economic or practical realities.

No Technique (Not Drawing the Line Context)

Applies when extending a deadline or making an exception is supported by a solid logical reason, such as awaiting critical pending price information.

No Technique (Conservatism/Radicalism/Moderatism Context)

Applies when maintaining an old method, adopting a new approach, or compromising is backed by sound study, evidence, or clear logical reasons.

No Technique (Rationalization Context)

Applies when a speaker provides a valid explanation for an error or failure while admitting their mistake and taking full responsibility.

No Technique (Wishful Thinking Context)

Applies when a speaker predicts success based on solid evidence, past performance, or leading poll results without making baseless guarantees.

No Technique (Causal Oversimplification Context)

Applies when a speaker correctly identifies a major contributing factor without claiming it is the sole cause, or when a single cause is factually complete.

No Technique (Inconceivability Context)

Applies when a speaker reasonably assesses a low probability of success using realistic facts and measured language rather than asserting absolute impossibility.

Techniques of Self-Deception

The propaganda category encompassing techniques where individuals deceive themselves or others through unexamined emotions, oversimplification, or fallacious logic.

Benefit of the Doubt Rule in Prejudice

When it is unclear whether a speaker has a valid reason for making a judgment, the benefit of the doubt should favor Prejudice over No Technique.

If-Then Form of Drawing the Line

A structural variation of Drawing the Line asserting that if one opposes a specific stance, one must automatically support the opposite extreme.

One Step Further Impulse

A characteristic of Not Drawing the Line where a speaker fails to recognize limits and insists on pushing further based on prior actions.

Putting Things in a Nutshell

A characteristic habit of Tabloid Thinking where complex character traits or theories are oversimplified into brief, neat summary phrases.

Simple Solution to a Complicated Problem

A common expanded form of Causal Oversimplification where a complex issue is addressed with a single, naive one-dimensional remedy.

Prejudgment

The underlying mechanism of Prejudice, formed beforehand by indoctrination, conditioning, or a singularly pleasant or unpleasant experience.