# 50. Self-delusion - the manipulation of self ## 50.5. Methodology/Refinements/Sub-species ### 50.5.21. Motivated reasoning Motivated reasoning leads people to confirm what they already believe, whilst ignoring contrary data. In addition, it drives people to develop elaborate rationalisations to justify holding beliefs that are obviously wrong, both logically and evidentially. Motivated reasoning is confirmation bias taken to a more extreme level. Motivated reasoning responds defensively to contrary evidence, actively discrediting such evidence or its source, without logical or evidentiary justification. Clearly, motivated reasoning is emotionally driven. It is assumed by social scientists that motivated reasoning is driven by a desire to avoid cognitive dissonance. Self-delusion, in other words, feels good and motivates people to vehemently defend obvious falsehoods. Examples of motivated reasoning: > - The Apollo moon landing was a hoax. > - Climate change is a hoax. > - Evolution is a hoax. > - Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11. > - The Holocaust didn't happen. > - AIDS is not caused by HIV. > - Vaccines cause autism. > - Barack Obama was not born in the United States.