Fake for Real: Everyday Acting

Was it real, or is she just trying to please me? Let’s face it: men are secretly insecure, because with women you just can’t tell! The classic romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally dealt magnificently with this taboo theme in a scene in which Sally, played by Meg Ryan, fakes an orgasm in a crowded restaurant to prove that women can do so convincingly. Of course, this is an extreme example, but if you think about it, we routinely engage in everyday acting to smooth communication with others, avoid embarrassing situations, or just be polite. We sometimes do it so convincingly, we even start to believe it ourselves.

From our Fake for Real series.