Pretenses refers to the act of pretending or making false claims, typically for deceptive purposes, in order to deceive or trick others. It involves creating a false appearance or impression to conceal one's true intentions or motivations.
In the context of interpersonal relationships, pretenses commonly involve feigning qualities, emotions, or attitudes that do not genuinely exist in oneself. This behavior is often employed to manipulate others, gain an advantage, or obtain something desired. Pretenses can manifest in various forms, such as pretending to be kind or supportive when one is actually harboring negative feelings, or pretending to be interested in someone's ideas or opinions while having no genuine intention to consider them.
Pretenses can also occur in more formal situations, such as falsely presenting qualifications or experience in job applications or resumes. In these cases, individuals create a facade or exaggerate their abilities to appear more qualified than they actually are, hoping to secure employment or advance their careers.
The use of pretenses is often considered dishonest, manipulative, and unethical, as it revolves around consciously deceiving others and misrepresenting oneself. It undermines trust and the genuine nature of human interactions. Consequently, pretenses are generally disapproved of in interpersonal relationships, professional settings, and society as a whole.
Overall, pretenses involve acting or presenting oneself in a false or deceptive manner, often for personal gain or advantage, thereby compromising the authenticity of both the individual and the relationship in which they engage.
