“Method acting” is a very nice metaphor for what’s actually going on: filling the mind with and identifying with a personality/character to the exclusion of normal thought processes, in order to more perfectly portray that other personality/character.
It’s not self-deception though, no more than a child engrossed in pretending to be a dog is engaged in self-deception.
I think a more emotionally neutral term for this technique would be something like “Method Acting”.
“Method acting” is a very nice metaphor for what’s actually going on: filling the mind with and identifying with a personality/character to the exclusion of normal thought processes, in order to more perfectly portray that other personality/character.
It’s not self-deception though, no more than a child engrossed in pretending to be a dog is engaged in self-deception.