Have you ever find yourself trying to give a seemingly reasonable explanation for the decision, choice or behaviour of yours that might be painful to admit?
If no, sometimes it may be unconscious but oftenly we do it. Psychologists call this Rationalizing, a defense mechanisms we use to protect ourselves from Pain.
We shall discuss about Rationalization as one of the defense mechanisms we use, it’s role and why we use it and also the effects it has.
What are Defense Mechanisms?
Defense Mechanisms are unconscious strategies we use to protect ourselves from situations or experiences that may be painful or cause discomfort if we did.
What’s Rationalizing as a Defense Mechanisms?
Rationalization is a defense mechanisms where we justify unacceptable or irrational feelings or actions with seemingly logical explanations.
Transmuting the irrational appear rational.
Through rationalization, we distort and deny reality to avoid or reduce pain that would otherwise be encountered had we admitted it.
The defense mechanisms was first studied by Ernst Jones in 1908 before later being expanded upon by Sigmund Freud and his daughter Anna Freud who included it in her studies on Ego Defense Mechanisms.
We are all aware the criticism Much of Freud’s work has encountered from various Researchers but luckily the idea of Rationalization is still embraced to date.
Is Rationalization entirely Conscious?
While Most defense mechanisms operate on an unconcious level, Rationalization can sometimes be conscious. So Rationalization can be conscious or unconscious.
Rationalization vs Lying.
While Lying is entirely a conscious attempt to deceive someone, Rationalization is both a Conscious and Unconscious mean through which we justify irrational or unacceptable emotions, feelings, decisions or behaviours
Why do We Rationalize;
1. To Protect from uncomfortable feelings such as Guilty and Shame. The main aim of the majority of defense mechanisms is to reduce discomfort and tension in our mind and this includes uncomfortable feelings such as shame and guilt.
2. To Avoid Cognitive Dissonance.
Cognitive Dissonance is the mental discomfort that arise from holding two or more conflicting beliefs in our minds. To protect our mind from the problem that arises from ambivalence and maintain consistency, rationalization can help by balancing the two conflicting beliefs.
3. To Avoid Making a Change.
Change involves stepping from the known to unknown which can be daunting to our mind. To stay in the known out of the fear of the unknown, we might resort to rationalizing to justify our stay in the unknown.
4. To Cope with Stress
This may be accomplished when we minimize pain in a situation we find stressful.
5. To Avoid Social Conflicts.
Rationalization also serves an adaptive purpose apart from reducing tension.
Eg; When we rationalize in an attempt to avoid conflict or rejection.
Signs You’re Rationalizing.
1. When you Blame others for mistakes that might be your own.
2. When you attempt to minimize Pain in situations.
3. When you make Comparisons that may make you feel better eg; At least I’m better than John ,, or,, It’s not as bad as what Jane went through.
4. Explaining away the Problem.
5. When you try to Shift Perspectives; eg; It’s good that I’m fired now I can focus on my family.
6. When you try to Minimize Pain eg; I didn’t want her that bad anyway. After rejection.
Effects of Rationalization.
Rationalization has both positive and negative implications both short term and long term. This includes;
☑️ Providing emotional relief.
☑️ Maintain our Esteem
❌ It may prevent us from Personal Accountability and Growth.
❌ Keeping us stuck in unhealthy behaviours.
❌ Repetition Compulsion – We fall in the same pattern again and again something that would be solved if we would otherwise confront the issue.
What are Some Social Settings where Rationalization is Used?
We rationalize to avoid conflicts both internal and external, to minimize pain that arises from the Disappointment of our expectations and avoid the Unknown.
1. Workplaces
For Instance; An individual blames traffic for arriving late to work instead of admitting his habit of waking up late.
2. Families.
For instance; A Partner may blame outside forces for her Husband’s cheating to avoid the cognitive Dissonance that would otherwise have aroused from admitting that the partner wasn’t good.
Or a Mother justifies his son’s smoking behaviour by claiming that it is just a stage, he will just stop.
3. Schools
In schools, a Student may use rationalization after failing in an exam by blaming professors for setting hard exams.
4. In Normal lives.
A smoker rationalize his smoking habit by claiming that all of us will die whether we smoke or not.
In a Nutshell, Rationalization is a defense mechanisms we occasionally use to protect our self-esteem, minimize pain and uncomfortable feelings etc. Though it can be helpful, overusing it can be dangerous for it prevent us from being accountable, making changes and confronting issues that may sabotage our lives. Being aware when Rationalizing is the first step to solve the issue. Then follows what am I Avoiding to admit?