Comments on: Balloon Boy and Justified Bad Behavior

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 21:09:52 +0000

@Jerod Ha, I have done that with my morning workouts. It's very much mental, isn't it? I like how you mention the fine line between rationalization and justification. That's a prime example of cognitive dissonance…but at least you understand why you did it, how you won't want to do it again and how you felt afterward. Maybe, half the battle?

By: jerodmsf

jerodmsf — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 19:54:40 +0000

I think it boils down to the difference between justification and rationalization.

No, I don't think ignorance is justified, nor should it be accepted, simply because we have a generally accepted theory with which to rationalize it.

I woke this up morning at 4:30 planning to work out. However, I decided in the infinite wisdom of my grogginess to go back to sleep until 5:15. I rationalized this by convincing myself that missing one workout isn't a big deal and that I needed 45 more minutes of sleep to recover from this past weekend.

And, of course, I was pissed at myself when I woke up at 5:15.

So while I can rationalize and understand the decision, it does not justify it. It was simply a B.S. excuse that I allowed myself to fall for because an alternate decision was easier in the short-term. Part of success and maturity is being able to overcome the temptation of easy, short-term thinking. Looks like I've got a ways to go! (Still can't believe I skipped...so upset with myself!)

I think there is a line between justifying and rationalizing. Rationalize all you want, but that does not justify the "wrong" decision.

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 17:09:52 +0000

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 16:42:13 +0000

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By: jerodmsf

jerodmsf — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 15:54:40 +0000

By: Grace Boyle

Grace Boyle — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:40:45 +0000

@Mac Thanks for your thoughts. Do you think those committing the “bad behavior” believe it's justified and the cognitive dissonance makes them feel as though it's right? It's so interesting. I like the piece you wrote about accepted answers, it's very true.

By: Mac

Mac — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 03:30:35 +0000

This is so very true when people are trying to achieve something. They fail and say "it was meant to be" or "You can't fight fate". It is a way of dealing with failure, you did not lose anything but the emotions invested.

Bad behavior is always justified. Look at the war in Iraq/Afghanistan and soon to be Iran. When you look at the events in the timeline leading up to the war, you realize it was justified for no reason but curiosity and fear.

It's unfortunate, but people justify stupidity all the time because their understanding of the world is rather limited to near nothingness. Their understanding consist of accepted answers, when something comes up they can't explain they justify it.

Ignorance never is positive.