In
psychology and
logic,
rationalization (also known as
making excuses) is an unconscious
defense mechanism in which perceived controversial behaviors or feelings are logically justified and explained in a rational or logical manner in order to avoid any true explanation, and are made consciously tolerable – or even admirable and superior – by plausible means. Rationalization encourages irrational or unacceptable behavior, motives, or feelings and often involves
ad hoc hypothesizing. This process ranges from fully
conscious (e.g. to present an external defense against ridicule from others) to mostly
subconscious (e.g. to create a block against internal feelings of guilt).
People rationalize for various reasons. Rationalization may differentiate the original deterministic explanation of the behavior or feeling in question. Sometimes rationalization occurs when we think we know ourselves
better than we do.
It is also an
informal fallacy of
reasoning.