Rationalization (psychology)

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Rationalization or rationalization, (derived from Latin ratio : calculation, accountability, calculation, reason) describes in psychology a process in which intellectual reasons are given for a behavior, while other "unreasonable reasons" for the behavior remain hidden. This does not only happen to third parties, but above all in the sense of an “inner excuse.” Rationalization is a general human behavior which is not per se to be regarded as a disorder, but it also plays a role in neurotic and psychotic processes.

Cognitive psychology

In the sense of cognitive psychology by Leon Festinger rationalizations reduce cognitive dissonance and help the person to receive a stringent self-image upright. They serve the retrospective self-confirmation of decisions made and the overarching self-justification.

Example: A student who writes bad grades and thus gets into a cognitive dissonance with his self-image, could resolve this by changing his behavior and learning more. Instead, he can bring forward rationalizations to himself and others that grades say nothing about intelligence or later success anyway and cite examples of successful people who did poorly in school.

Psychoanalysis

The term was introduced into psychoanalysis by Ernest Jones and described as an everyday process in which seemingly rational explanations are given for actions or experiences that can be traced back to emotional, unconscious reasons. Anna Freud explains that the rationalization of self-deception about internal processes is in contrast to the skills for correct perception and reality testing, which are developed at the same time.

The term has been taken up many times within psychoanalysis, although there is disagreement as to whether it is a defense mechanism or not.

For example, Jean Laplanche and Jean-Bertrand Pontalis are of the opinion that rationalization in psychoanalysis has a defensive function, but that it cannot usually be counted among the defensive mechanisms . The authors justify this with the fact that the rationalization is not directed directly against the satisfaction of instincts, but rather secondarily tries to disguise various elements of the defensive conflict and other defensive processes.

Rudolf Klußmann, on the other hand, counts rationalization unreservedly among the defense mechanisms and explains that an actual motive is being fought off and replaced by an unconscious pseudo-justification and intellectual justification. Rationalization is one of the defense mechanisms that emerge later in developmental psychology and that appear very frequently. It could lead to individual life lies and show certain characteristic features along the psychological structure . Typical rationalizations of the depressive are the emphasis on modesty, asceticism and humility, while liveliness and change are ideologized in the hysterical structure and cleanliness and correctness in the compulsive structure. In the clinical context, other authors assign rationalization as a form of defense primarily to the obsessional neurotic structure .

Example: A father raises his son according to a strict set of rules and rationalizes this with the argument that otherwise chaos would break out because of his son's temperament. In psychoanalysis it becomes clear that his upbringing style was based more on a projection of his own aggressions towards his son.

psychiatry

In psychopathology , rationalization is the preferred defense mechanism for antisocial or antisocial personality disorder .

hypnosis

After post-hypnotic suggestion in hypnosis or hypnotherapy , rationalization is the production of a reasonable explanation for following post-hypnotic commands. So z. B. the hypnosis instructed to take off the jacket followed posthypnotically and justified on questioning that the room has heated up or has simply become warm.

Social rationalization

Like all defense mechanisms, rationalization can also be found in interpersonal and institutional defensive configurations, where on the one hand it assumes vitally important functions for safeguarding the institution as a whole, but at the same time harbors the risk of an institution becoming hardened and no longer functional.

Klußmann also describes that rationalizations can be part of social ideologizations and can favor neurotic religiosity and neurotic philosophies. So z. For example, the avoidance of evil deeds resulting from neurotic compulsiveness can be combined with the religious idea of ​​a rewarding God or subjective feelings can be proclaimed as truth with the help of a philosophical justification. As a characteristic of such rationalizations, which are fundamentally difficult to distinguish, he mentions the lack of observation of reality, exaggerated claims to power and validity, and the tendency towards aesthetic stylization and unworldliness.

Studies in the political environment have shown that people rationalize political and other important decisions and see them in a more positive light once they have come into force. Even an expected status quo is streamlined by highlighting its advantages and minimizing the disadvantages.

What can be described as ideology on the collective level of action is to be grasped individually psychologically as rationalization. B. the racial ideology under National Socialism . The emotional needs of marginalization and the annihilation of unwelcome people are warded off here.

See also

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Rationalization, Rationalization . In MA Wirtz (ed.): Dorsch - Lexicon of Psychology . 2019; accessed on March 6, 2019.
  2. ↑ a b rationalization . In: J. Laplance, J.-B. Pontalis: The Vocabulary of Psychoanalysis. Second volume. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt am Main 1973, p. 418 f.
  3. ↑ Man as a rationalizing being: cognitive dissonance and self-justification . In: P. Fischer et al .: Social Psychology for Bachelor's. Springer-Verlag, Berlin / Heidelberg 2013. doi: 10.1007 / 978-3-642-30272-5 2 lehrbuch-psychologie.springer.com (PDF) accessed on March 6, 2019
  4. ↑ Fanny Jimenez: How we constantly lie to ourselves . Welt Online , January 17, 2013; accessed on March 8, 2019
  5. ^ Ernest Jones: Rationalization in every-day life. (Rationalization in everyday life). In: The Journal of Abnormal Psychology , 1908 (3), pp. 161-169. doi: 10.1037 / h0070692
  6. ↑ Anna Freud: About insights into the unconscious soul life. 1980. The writings of Anna Freud. Volume X: 1971-1980. Fischer Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 1987, p. 2765
  7. ↑ Siegfried Zepf: Some thoughts on rationalization and intellectualization. Forum der Psychoanalyse (2012) 28 pp. 51–66 DOI 10.1007 / s00451-010-0058-0
  8. ^ A b Rudolf Klußmann: Psychoanalytic developmental psychology, theory of neuroses, psychotherapy. An overview. Springer publishing house. Berlin / Heidelberg / New York 1988, p. 23f. ISBN 3-540-18475-9
  9. ↑ Udo Bossmann: Structure and Psychodynamics. Deutscher Psychologen Verlag, Berlin 2010, p. 39
  10. ↑ Siegfried Zepf: Some thoughts on rationalization and intellectualization . In: Forum der Psychoanalyse , 2012, 28, p. 58 doi: 10.1007 / s00451-010-0058-0
  11. ↑ Hans-Jürgen Möller , Gerd Laux, Arno Deister : Psychiatry, Psychosomatics and Psychotherapy (= dual series. ). With a contribution to child and adolescent psychiatry by Gerd Schulte Körne and Hellmuth Braun-Scharm. 5th, completely revised and expanded edition. Thieme, Stuttgart 2013, ISBN 978-3-13-128545-4 , p. 386.
  12. ↑ cf. Sigmund Freud: The Interpretation of Dreams . 1900. Collected Works, Volume II / III, p. 153
  13. ↑ Rationalization - A puzzling psychological defense mechanism . In: Psychologie Magazin ; accessed on March 7, 2018
  14. ↑ Stavros Mentzos : Interpersonal and Institutionalized Defense. Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt am Main 1988, ISBN 978-3-518-28309-7
  15. ↑ Kl. Laurin: Inaugurating Rationalization: Three Field Studies Find Increased Rationalization When Anticipated Realities Become Current. British Columbia University; Psychological Science (2018). doi: 10.1177 / 0956797617738814 (English) German summary.
  16. ↑ Jürgen Habermas : Knowledge and Interest . In: Technology and Science as »Ideology«. [1965 Merkur], 4th edition, Suhrkamp, ​​Frankfurt, Edition 287, 1970 ( 1 1968); P. 159 on taxonomy "Rationalization" and p. 152 on taxonomy "barbarism".