The Unconscious Defense Mechanism We All Use to Explain Away Faulty Logic or Behaviors
Whether we realize it or not, every single one of us is guilty of trying to rationalize our way through life.
We try making excuses to explain away incorrect explanations, justify our bad mood, or even give logical reason to an odd set of behaviors we exhibited. Rationalizing our behavior, feelings or thoughts can help us process and respond to events around us with greater ease. It can prove a helpful tool we interact with to discover true motives or understand our emotions. But it can also act as a defense mechanism that prohibits our ability to exercise sound thinking if we do not practice awareness and mindful restraint.
Examples of Self Rationalization in Action
So, if we all self rationalize as a by-product of unconscious self-defense, how do we know when we use rationality too often? Are we using it to rid ourselves of guilt or protect our self-esteem? Is there a way for us to better grasp reality and be more aware of our logical processing? Hence, we recognize when we are using an explanation to justify our attitude or nullify our responsibility for harm caused?
It can prove challenging for us to point out our over rationalizing behaviors in any given moment.
After all, not all occurrences of rationalization makes for negative behavior or produce danger. Sometimes rationalizing helps us make sense of our fear or other negative feelings to make good decisions that protect us and our mental health in the long run. But even though our attempts to rationalize may provide us with valuable information, they can also cause us to misperceive reality. And a misconception of reality can cause a person to display neurotic symptoms or develop low self-esteem.
A Beneficial Example of Rationalization in Action:
Rationalizing can help us better prepare ourselves to adapt to any situation we find ourselves in. For instance, an excellent example of rationalization in practice can include:
- Us working to attribute another person’s adverse moods or behavior to stress, a demanding workday, or bad news, so we do not equate the other individual’s lashing out with our personal feelings.
- Or us working to understand another person we encounter, considering that cultural differences may attribute to a personal relationship we hold. That way, we do not perceive the differences in another individual’s behavior as intentional rudeness to ourselves.
A person who uses rationalization correctly can act calmly in dire circumstances, offering themselves the benefit of achieving self-respect while protecting their mental health and emotions. But if a person is not careful, self-rationalization as a defense mechanism can be destructive to mental health. Often leading people to develop unhealthy coping mechanisms and thought patterns.
A Harmful Example of Rationalization in Action:
An example of rationalization taking on damaging behavioral effects can include:
- Individuals chronically tell white lies to themselves and others to make a fictional circumstance more believable, even if not “necessary.”
- An individual attempted to nullify an explosive reaction to another person, even if the explanations offered made no logical sense.
- Even internally rationalizing a partner’s abusive behavior to convince ourselves our loved one has our best interest at heart, even when physical harm is present.
Rationalization makes a great tool to attempt understanding others and their treatment of us, or even our mindset.
Psychology today points out that even the most well-intended explanations for reactions can prove a rational line of excuses to avoid responsibility and affirmative action.
What is Self Rationalization?
Self rationalization is our attempt to justify deviant, immoral, and generally unacceptable behavior we find ourselves exhibiting through logic.
“Well, if Sarah hadn’t taken credit for my idea at work, I wouldn’t have been so unkind to her when she asked me a question in the lunchroom. It is her fault we are in the situation.”
Or…
“If mom and dad had just let me go to the party in the first place, maybe I wouldn’t have snuck out and gotten so carried away,” etc. No matter how you look at it, self-rationalizing is an attempt at self-defense.
According to Sigmund Freud and his psychology analysis, self-rationalizing is nothing more than our unconscious attempt to defend our faulty beliefs and thought processes. We do this to avoid addressing serious issues with our mental health and worldview.
Even so, in some situations, rationalizing a problem may be suitable.
But, when and how do we know when self-rationalization is going too far?
What is Rationalization in Psychology?
There are many different types of rationalization.
Some of the most well-known forms of rationalization include:
- Theoretical rationality
- Substantive
- Practical
- Formal
- Even political rational
Every kind of rationality has its system of thought behind it, its purpose in life. Sometimes these purposes can be good, others bad. But more often than not, psychology confirms that rationalization as a whole is a dual-sided coin.
It can be a double-edged sword.
On the one hand, a rationalizing system can be used in psychological settings to help clients seek professional advice. Thus opening an opportunity for them to learn how to protect themselves; it can be used as a source for self-defense. But in other scenarios, rationalization, especially self-rationalization, can be harmful to our character or mindset.
In therapeutic sessions for substance abuse disorders and other mental health conditions, self-rationalization often adds a barrier psychologists must work through with clients. Once this obstacle is overcome, clinicians can continue to treat for extending thought, outlook, and behavioral issues. To some, these interventions may seem like an added chore.
But, many contemporary therapists are now using rationalization as an opportunity to identify their clients’ underlying motives and connect with them on a personal level.
When Do Rationalizations Occur?
Self-rationalization is an exciting concept.
Even so, it often leaves us to wonder about how far is too far with self-rationalization or even how to recognize when it occurs.
Even though the concept may sound somewhat arbitrary, it is relatively easy to pinpoint an instance where rationalization occurs.
You’ve probably been able to pick out a few moments in your own life where you caught rationalization at work in your actions or thought processes. Rationalization can help you learn a lot about yourself!
All we need to do is first understand that humankind is not rational as a species.
But, we possess the ability to develop rational thoughts and reactions. Self-rationalization can help protect us from tragedies, lies, manipulation, etc. But we can also use it to deceive ourselves into believing we know the answer to every question.
Where exactly does the line lie? It depends on the situation.
Rationalization is not a linear concept. It can occur in any instance that presents us with even the slightest conflicting circumstance or event we come across in life.
The Definition of Cognitive Dissonance (CD)
Well known in the social sciences for its extensive and influential research history, the concept of CD is a challenge to humanity’s ever-evolving plight for intellectual and emotional knowledge.
Professionally defined as the discomfort a person feels when developing two conflicting value systems or beliefs, CD spends much of its existence wreaking havoc in individual lives. We, humans, hate discomfort. As a result, we will do almost anything we can to absolve ourselves from experiencing such unnerving materializations in thought or feeling.
How Constantly Rationalizing Can Prove a Danger to Ourselves
Cognitive Dissonance Reduction, “Solving Conflict”
Suppose we constantly ignore conflict to maintain our comfort or spend too much time trying to solve issues to make ourselves more comfortable. In that case, we allow self-rationalization to become a risk to our overall health and wellness.
Yes, sometimes self-rationalization can be an added obstacle blocking the healing process. But sometimes, it can also help treat the issues of mental illness and substance abuse.
Rationalization and self-rationalization can help us cope with great tragedies in our lives.
These processes can help us break down the thought cycle, allowing us to understand more about ourselves and our surroundings. But, if we are using rationalization to justify our adverse reactions, every time we do something wrong, we may cross the line as to what is indeed justifiable. Instead, we may be trying to get away with something inexcusable.
If we make the process of rationalizing every concept we encounter in our daily lives our primary focus, we run the risk of blinding ourselves to the world around us. We can become so caught up in our thinking, obsessing over every little detail or social conflict, that life can pass us right by, or we can put ourselves in the direct path of dire events or circumstances/
Avoiding overdone self-rationalizations and rationalization, in general, can be complicated, but it is not impossible.
The Rational Self Interest Theory
The rational self-interest theory points out that individuals, under any circumstances, will first turn to look out for their best interests.
Some people see this as selfish. Others see self-prioritization.
In the end, the rational self-interested theory can be good or bad depending on the individual and the specific circumstance in question.
To function in society as good human beings, we must find balance. Everything points back to balance in life. Even to live our lives separate from substance abuse, we must live a well-balanced life. If our equilibrium scale is off, it can have devastating effects. Being too involved with self-interest, justification, and rationalization can turn us into the monsters we are trying to avoid.
No matter how much we dive into self-deception using self-rationalization, there is no way to rationalize a problem or ill act away.
If we have committed an atrocity, we must face it for what it is. Only then can we move forward from our mistakes and begin healing, even in substance abuse and addiction treatment.
Healing at St. John’s Recovery Place (SJRP)
Here at St. John’s Recovery Place (SJRP), we believe in the holistic pursuit of balance.
Our quality staff therapists work with our clients from the ground up to beat self-rationalizing tendencies and other mental disorders. We help clients discover more about themselves, learn to recognize their destructive self-defense patterns, and implement new, healthier coping mechanisms.
Recovering from drug and alcohol use disorders is challenging.
But, with hard work, a robust support system, and plenty of time and space, recovery can be an achievable goal for anyone to obtain.
We use traditional and innovative alternative therapy systems at our facility to help treat our clients’ deep-seated issues at their core. We allow our residents to grow from their pasts, changing into the person they wish to be. Suppose you or a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, and you’ve noticed self-rationalization getting in the way of your healing. It may be time to seek out professional help.
SJRP can provide you with the helping hand you need.
Contact us today at 1-833-397-3422 to learn more about self-rationalization, substance abuse, and rehab. We will be happy to engage you with any information you wish to know. Call today!
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