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Wishful Thinking

Disciplines > Argument > Fallacies > Wishful Thinking

Description | Discussion | Example | See also

Description

1. I want something to be true and factual.

2. Therefore it is true and factual.

To think wishfully, just act as if what you want is true and either has happened or is about to happen.

Example

The book I have written is loved by everyone who reads it.

I need a break!

Discussion

Despite the obvious falsehood of this fallacy, it is surprising how often it appears. It is often also surprising how often people do not realize that they are doing it, as subconscious desires appear through assumptions of truth.

People who use wishful thinking often supplement it with emotional states such as aggression or pleading, seeking either to batter others into accepting their assertion or otherwise adopt a child position.

Wishing can actually lead to something becoming true, where the person acts to reduce the dissonance of conflicting reality and wishes.

When faced with the truth, they are very likely to use denial or use some other form of defense.

Classification

Assumptive, Falsehood

Also known as

Appeal to Consequences of a Belief, Appeal to Belief

See also

Cognitive Dissonance, Defense Mechanisms

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

Please help and share:

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

– About
– Guest Articles
– Blog!
– Books
– Changes
– Contact
– Guestbook
– Quotes
– Students
– Webmasters

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed