Posts tagged psychological discomfort

The Ultimate Defense Mechanism: Self-Justification (Essay #7)

Critical Thinking November 22, 2025

White male Elliot Aronson sitting at a desk, perhaps in an office or study setting, with their book “Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me)” visible . Behind him, a whiteboard shows a simple pyramid diagram with “Small Choice” at the top and arrows diverging down opposite sides, labeled with progressive justifications at each level. Their expressions convey both understanding of human psychology and concern about its implications. Books on psychology and social behavior fill the shelves in the background.

Cognitive dissonance makes your brain rewrite reality to protect your self-image. Each time you justify a bad choice, the next justification gets easier. This is how reasonable people end up defending the indefensible.

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