Introduction: 3 of 3

Rationalization: Learning Without Development


Rationalization refers to your tendency to explain negatively reinforcing outcomes. Rather than examining both your beliefs about a situation and the behaviors involved, rationalization supports a possible change in behavior without any question of the underlying logic of the behavior and without any question of the social role you have defined for yourself. In many cases, rationalization functions to delay changes in your behavior.

I understand that your powers of reason are well-practiced. In fact, I recognize it as an indication of your potential for greatness. You must entertain all options, though, including the option that the depth of your error extends beyond the current choice and outcome. Your error is in your core definition of your social role. In other words, it is not just the “what you know” that you have opportunity to inform, it is also the “who are you” that needs to be redefined. It is a questioning of thoughts and feelings, knowledge and attitudes, learning and self-development.

I understand that this questioning is often difficult because the patterns of rationalization you employ have been passed down to you by people that you respect and revere: parents, pastors, mentors, and other loved ones. All knowledge must support the search for new knowledge and the potential for change (cognitive flexibility), or it is dogma and does not fit the definition of self-development. Once-for-all knowledge traps you in a mental prison and a developmental rut.