The Pragmatic Hypothesis Testing Theory of Self-Deception and the Belief/Acceptance Distinction

Abstract According to the pragmatic hypothesis testing theory, how much evidence we require before believe something varies depending on expected costs of falsely believing and disbelieving it. This theory has been used in self-deception debate explain our tendencies towards self-deceptive belief formation. article argues that application this overlooked distinction between acceptance, all likelihood models acceptance rather than belief, which case it is probably not relevant explanation self-deception. It suggested, however, doxastic error might be explaining some types self-deception, though they feature an evolutionary a psychological one.