Cheating is often thought of as something that happens in the context of competition—whether it’s about winning a game, getting ahead at work, or deceiving others for personal gain. However, there’s another kind of cheating that doesn’t involve anyone else: cheating on yourself. This might not seem as harmful on the surface because, after all, no one is directly affected by it, but recent research suggests that self-deception can have lasting and real-world consequences. Cheating on crossword puzzles, exaggerating your daily calorie intake, or lying about how much you really know about financial matters may seem harmless at first, but they actually have deep psychological effects. These behaviors distort our perception of ourselves and hinder personal growth, potentially making it harder to achieve long-term goals.
The Psychology Behind Self-Cheating
In a study published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research, Professor Sara Loughran Dommer from Penn State University and her team explored a fascinating form of dishonesty—self-deception. According to the research, people often cheat on themselves, not for external rewards, but to feel better about who they are. Whether it’s taking a shortcut on a crossword puzzle or not tracking every calorie consumed, these minor cheats give people a false sense of accomplishment and a boost to their self-image.
Self-deception is subtle but pervasive. In some cases, people cheat in situations where no one else would know, and there are no external rewards. For example, when solving puzzles like crosswords, people might look up the answers to “make things easier” instead of solving the puzzle themselves. It’s not for a prize or recognition; it’s simply to feel smarter or more accomplished, even though the truth is that they didn’t solve the puzzle at all.
The same thing happens with health-related behaviors. People often cheat on their diets by underreporting their calorie intake or “forgetting” to log certain foods, thinking they can get away with it because no one is watching. Yet, by doing so, they aren’t just cheating themselves in the moment—they’re also undermining their long-term health goals. The study suggests that these small cheats offer a temporary boost to self-esteem and a false sense of control, but they don’t lead to lasting improvement in any meaningful area.
How Self-Cheating Affects Health
In the case of health, underreporting calories or skipping workouts might seem like harmless lies, but they have deeper consequences. By underestimating the calories consumed, individuals might avoid addressing bad habits, and this denial ultimately prevents them from achieving their fitness goals. If someone tells themselves they’ve been eating fewer calories than they actually have, it creates an illusion of healthy behavior. However, this deception prevents them from confronting the real issue: an imbalance between calorie intake and expenditure.
The false confidence gained from these small cheats often leads to a cycle of self-deception. If someone doesn’t track everything they eat or exercises less than they claim, they don’t make real progress toward their health and wellness goals. Instead, they are trapped in a bubble of denial, thinking they’re making healthier choices than they actually are. This can result in frustration when the desired health outcomes, such as weight loss or improved fitness, don’t materialize, despite seemingly consistent effort.
A similar pattern is seen with other health-related behaviors, such as ignoring signs of stress or emotional health. When people convince themselves that they’re handling everything well, even if they’re not, it can delay seeking the help they need. Ultimately, this self-deception can contribute to burnout, mental health issues, or chronic health conditions that could have been addressed earlier with honesty.
The Impact on Decision-Making and Financial Literacy
Self-cheating also plays a significant role in decision-making, especially when it comes to finances. Many people exaggerate their financial knowledge, convincing themselves they understand budgeting, investing, or managing debt, even if they don’t. In the study, participants were asked questions about financial literacy, and some of them chose to manipulate their answers, providing responses that inflated their true level of knowledge. This wasn’t for an external reward, but to feel more competent or confident about their financial abilities.
This kind of self-deception can have serious long-term consequences. If someone believes they are financially savvy when they are not, they might make risky investments or poor spending decisions. They might also neglect important areas of their financial health, such as saving for the future or creating a budget. While these small cheats may seem insignificant in the moment, over time they can compound, leading to significant financial mistakes or even financial ruin.
Self-deception also affects how people approach challenges in other areas of life. If someone lies to themselves about their skills or knowledge, they might not take the necessary steps to improve. They might feel overconfident in their abilities and fail to put in the work needed to genuinely grow and develop. This false confidence can lead to stagnation, missed opportunities, and ultimately, a lower quality of life.
The Consequences of False Confidence
The false sense of accomplishment gained from self-cheating might boost one’s self-esteem in the short term, but in the long run, it has serious drawbacks. One of the key consequences of self-deception is that it distorts our understanding of our true capabilities. By cheating on ourselves, we end up with an inflated view of our abilities, which in turn prevents us from seeing where we need to improve. This can lead to poor decision-making and hinder our personal development.
For example, someone who cheats on their calorie intake by downplaying how much they’ve eaten might feel justified in continuing unhealthy eating habits. However, they won’t have the necessary information to make real changes to their diet. The same goes for people who inflate their intelligence by using shortcuts in puzzles or tests—they miss out on the opportunity to genuinely expand their knowledge and cognitive skills.
Self-deception also interferes with goal setting and achievement. If someone believes they’re already doing everything right when they’re not, they won’t make the necessary changes to improve. Over time, this can result in frustration, confusion, and a sense of failure. It’s not that they’re not trying hard enough; it’s that they’re deceiving themselves into thinking they’re further along than they really are.
Why Self-Cheating Is So Tempting
So why do people cheat on themselves, especially in low-stakes situations like crosswords or calorie tracking? The answer lies in human psychology. People are motivated by the need to feel good about themselves, and self-deception provides a quick and easy way to boost self-esteem. By convincing ourselves that we’re healthier, smarter, or more knowledgeable than we actually are, we can temporarily avoid feelings of inadequacy or self-doubt.
However, while these feelings of false confidence might feel good in the moment, they come at a cost. People who cheat on themselves are less likely to engage in behaviors that would actually help them improve. They avoid confronting their weaknesses or acknowledging areas where they need to grow, which ultimately hinders progress in all areas of life.
How to Break the Cycle of Self-Deception
Breaking the cycle of self-deception requires self-awareness and honesty. The first step is to acknowledge when you’re lying to yourself, even in seemingly trivial situations. Whether it’s overestimating your calorie burn or convincing yourself that you’re smarter than you actually are, it’s important to be honest about your abilities and shortcomings.
The second step is to set realistic goals and expectations. Instead of trying to convince yourself that you’re already where you want to be, focus on small, achievable steps that lead to real progress. This could mean tracking your calories honestly, challenging yourself with more difficult puzzles, or being open about your financial literacy gaps.
Finally, it’s crucial to develop a growth mindset. Rather than relying on self-deception to boost your confidence, cultivate a mindset that focuses on continuous improvement. Recognize that learning and growth come from confronting challenges and embracing failure as part of the process.
Cheating on yourself might seem harmless, but it can have long-lasting effects on your well-being and personal growth. By lying about your abilities, health, or knowledge, you create a false sense of accomplishment that prevents real progress. To break free from this cycle of self-deception, it’s important to embrace honesty, set realistic goals, and focus on growth. Only by confronting our true capabilities can we achieve lasting success and personal fulfillment.
