Rationalization is an attempt to logically justify immoral, deviant, or generally unacceptable behavior. In Freud’s classic psychoanalytic theory, rationalization is a defense mechanism, an unconscious attempt to avoid addressing the underlying reasons for a behavior.
What does rationalization mean example?
Rationalize is to attempt to justify something or to make excuses for bad behavior or an unpleasant outcome. When you steal from your friends but justify it based on the theory that they are spoiled and won’t notice the money is gone, this is an example of a situation where you rationalize your behavior. verb.
What does rationalize meaning?
: to bring into accord with reason or cause something to seem reasonable especially : to attribute (one’s actions) to rational and creditable motives without analysis of true and especially unconscious motives he tried to rationalize his cruel behavior. intransitive verb.
What is cognitive rationalization?
We therefore speak of cognitive rationalization to refer to this process in which pertinent cognitions are modified or inferred in relation to a problematic behavior.
What is the purpose of rationalization psychology?
In Freud’s classic psychoanalytic theory, rationalization is a defense mechanism, an unconscious attempt to avoid addressing the underlying reasons for a behavior. Rationalizing an event may help individuals maintain self-respect or avoid guilt over something they have done wrong.
What are the 7 defense mechanisms?
Here are a few common defense mechanisms:
- Denial. Denial is one of the most common defense mechanisms. …
- Repression. Unsavory thoughts, painful memories, or irrational beliefs can upset you. …
- Projection. …
- Displacement. …
- Regression. …
- Rationalization. …
- Sublimation. …
- Reaction formation.
What does extenuate mean in English?
1 : to lessen or to try to lessen the seriousness or extent of (something, such as a fault or offense) by making partial excuses : mitigate There is no economic analysis that can extenuate bigotry.—
What does Rationalise mean in Surds?
Rationalising an expression means getting rid of any surds from the bottom (denominator) of fractions. Usually when you are asked to simplify an expression it means you should also rationalise it.
How do you understand rationalization?
Rationalization means organizing something into a logically coherent system. Factory organization is often rationalized to make it as efficient as possible. Sometimes rationalization means a way someone justifies their action.
Why do we rationalize?
So when we rationalize either the denominator or numerator we want to rid it of radicals. When a radical contains an expression that is not a perfect root, for example, the square root of 3 or cube root of 5, it is called an irrational number.
What does over rationalizing mean?
verb with object over-rationalize to ascribe (one’s acts, opinions, etc.) to causes that superficially seem reasonable and valid but that actually are unrelated to the true, possibly unconscious and often less creditable or agreeable causes. 1.
What does rationalizing risks mean?
Risk is the product of rationalization in two senses. It represents the extension of rationalism into our comprehension of the unknown, giving us a sense of control over uncertainty in a way that appeals to the modern mind.
Can you rationalize feelings?
In psychology rationalization or rationalisation is a defense mechanism in which controversial behaviors or feelings are justified and explained in a seemingly rational or logical manner in the absence of a true explanation, and are made consciously tolerable—or even admirable and superior—by plausible means.