Introducing Redirection, Counterfeiting, and Rationalization

Beyond Behaviorist Learning


More than a simple function of automatic and conditioned responses, human behavior is steeped in how you define your role in the world and how you interact with your community. That is, you behave in ways that fit with the way in which you see yourself. You update this view of self in response to interactions with other people. Change in response to interactions or recognized fallacies in your worldview or inconsistencies in your behavior can be productive as you are reflective and open to new information. Inhibiting this productivity is the fact that humans are more comfortable with stable views of the world. The preference for stability may lead to limits in the process of role redefinition and limits in the variety of interactions experienced. When new information is limited in this way you can maintain a stable, reassuring view of yourself and the world around you.

A constant state of chaos is not advisable. As well, considering a change in belief or behavior is no obligation to change. But, when you find that your sense of self and your behaviors are inconsistent, it may be time to map the inconsistency and consider change. What typically occurs though is a redoubling of our protectionist instincts. Redirection, counterfeiting, and rationalization are comfortable processes we use to regain equilibrium without considering change.