The factual accuracy of this article is disputed

Self deception is a process of denying or rationalizing away the relevance, significance, or importance of opposing evidence and argument. Typically, self deception is used to maintain false beliefs or delusions that one has an emotional attachment to. Self deception can also include the defensive process of controlling and interrupting a discussion in order to try to prevent the opposing evidence and argument from even being presented.

Generally the person engaged in self deception is unaware that he is illogically defending his beliefs. We are all highly susceptible to self deception, for we generally have beliefs we are emotionally attached to.