RATIONALIZING Meaning and
Definition
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Rationalizing is a cognitive process that entails examining, justifying, or making logical sense of one's thoughts, beliefs, behaviors, or decisions to reduce cognitive dissonance. It is a way for individuals to align their actions or choices with their pre-existing beliefs or societal norms by creating plausible explanations or justifications. This process often occurs when faced with conflicting information, emotions, or moral dilemmas.
In psychology, rationalizing can be seen as a defense mechanism utilized to protect one's self-esteem or ego. It allows individuals to maintain a positive self-image by providing rational reasons for their actions, even if those reasons may not necessarily reflect their true motivations. By rationalizing, individuals aim to minimize feelings of guilt, shame, or discontentment that may arise from cognitive dissonance.
Common examples of rationalizing include explaining procrastination as needing more time for creativity, justifying impulsive purchases as stress relief, or attributing success to personal effort rather than luck. The process of rationalization involves constructing logical arguments, finding evidence or external factors to support one's position, or reinterpreting information to fit personal beliefs or values. It can occur both consciously and unconsciously, and individuals may not always be aware that they are engaging in this cognitive process.
While rationalizing can provide temporary relief or emotional comfort, it may hinder personal growth or prevent individuals from learning from their mistakes. Counterproductive rationalizations can perpetuate irrational beliefs, hinder critical thinking, and create barriers to personal development and understanding.
Top Common Misspellings for RATIONALIZING *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for RATIONALIZING
Etymology of RATIONALIZING
The word "rationalizing" is derived from the noun "rationalize" which comes from the word "rational" combined with the suffix "-ize".
The term "rational" originates from the Latin word "rationalis", meaning "pertaining to reason". It is derived from the verb "ratiōnārī", meaning "to think, to calculate".
The suffix "-ize" is derived from the Greek suffix "-izein", indicating the process or act of something. It was later adapted into Latin as "-izare" and eventually made its way into English.
Therefore, "rationalizing" refers to the act or process of providing a rational explanation or justification for something, often based on reason or logic.
Similar spelling words for RATIONALIZING
- rationalist,
- rationalization,
- rationalise,
- rationalistic,
- Rationalise Away,
- rationalize,
- rationalism,
- rational number,
- rational motive,
- rationalness,
- rationalize away,
- rationally,
- rationality,
- rationalisation.
Conjugate verb Rationalizing
CONDITIONAL
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FUTURE
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FUTURE PERFECT
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will have rationalized
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PAST
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rationalized
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PAST PERFECT
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PRESENT
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rationalize
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PRESENT PERFECT
I
have rationalized
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