Shankar Vedantam on the Hidden Benefits of Delusion challenges everything you thought you knew about truth and falsehood. This insightful 10-lesson course, complete with assessments, delves into the provocative question posed by Shankar Vedantam, host of the Hidden Brain podcast and author of Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Deceiving Brain: Is self-deception or delusion always bad? The surprising answer, supported by extensive research in medicine, psychology, and economics, is a resounding "No.".

Discover how a healthy dose of self-deception can profoundly impact the quality of your relationships, underpin the success of your groups, and even influence your longevity. This course goes beyond conventional wisdom, revealing the subtle yet powerful ways delusion permeates our reality and supports our well-being.

You'll explore fascinating insights into:

• The Power of Politeness: Learn why a little "hot air"—even disingenuous courtesy—is essential for smooth social interactions and the functioning of teams and organisations, preventing rudeness that can impair thought and action.
• The "Love is Blind" Phenomenon: Understand how positive illusions about our partners can literally change brain activity, making us less critical and helping us to fall—and stay—in love, demonstrating that self-deception can be a force for good in personal relationships.
• Optimism and Longevity: Uncover compelling research showing how an optimistic outlook and benevolent self-deception can prolong life, particularly for those facing dire circumstances, even outliving realists.
• The Placebo Effect and Marketing: See how the stories we tell ourselves, influenced by external factors like product descriptions or pharmaceutical advertising, can measurably alter our experience of reality and even enhance the efficacy of treatments. You'll find out why a £10 wine can actually taste better when believed to be a £90 bottle.
• The Psychology of Belief: Gain a deeper understanding of cognitive dissonance and why people cling to conspiracy theories or "crazy views." You'll learn that false beliefs are often not a sign of low intelligence, but a pain-coping mechanism or a way to regain a sense of control in a chaotic world.
• The Hidden Benefits of Rituals: Explore how seemingly superstitious or illogical rituals (from pre-game routines to firewalking) are not meaningless, but serve psychological functions: easing anxiety, generating community, and inspiring courage, where psychological reality turns into actual reality.
• National Myths and Collective Identity: Discover how shared stories, even those that are not entirely factual, can bind nations together, foster a shared sense of identity, inspire collaboration, and motivate individuals to contribute to a "sacred cause".

This course encourages you to critically examine the role of self-deception in your life and society, urging you to ask: What are the consequences of this self-deception? Whom does it serve? Do the benefits justify the costs?.

By the end of this course, you will recognise and appreciate the many ways delusions maintain the social fabric of our lives, provide hope, protect from psychological pain, and even help us face mortality with courage. Unlock the paradox of the human brain and learn how to make wiser choices for a happier, healthier, and more meaningful life.