People Who Justify Themselves Excessively: Why Do They Do It?

People who are overly justified tend to burn out. They tire us because we see in them a forced attempt to appear effective, to show that they are not wrong, that what they did did not respond to something casual but to a premeditated purpose. Whoever is obsessed day in and day out to demonstrate infallibility, what he clearly reveals is a high level of insecurity.

Now, it is true that all of us may need to justify ourselves at a specific moment. At times, we may not feel aligned with our values ​​and behaviors and we need to be consistent. Resorting to justification from time to time is understandable and even acceptable, but turning it into a way of life is making excuses and excuses an unhealthy shield. 

For example, having a partner who has a justification for every sloppiness, carelessness, or mistake ends up disintegrating the relationship. Having co-workers who make this resource a constant that makes daily work difficult, makes us see them with discomfort and distrust. They are, without a doubt, situations of high wear .

People who justify themselves excessively: keys to why they do it

The Latin writer Publio Siro used to say that every vice has its excuse. Few things are so true. An example of this are the cognitive reactions shown by people who smoke. Thus, studies such as those carried out at the University of Connecticut in the United States show that when someone tries to quit tobacco and does not succeed, the use of excuses is frequent.

Verbalizations such as “I am now undergoing high stress” or “It is impossible to quit smoking when you have a partner or co-workers who also smoke”  are usually the most used. People who justify themselves excessively also show low self-esteem as a trait behind which hides the fear of giving a bad image.

In this way, the constant use of excuses, pretexts and self-justifications causes them to lose credibility sooner or later. That is, they finally end up demonstrating what they want to avoid.

Giving explanations and justifying ourselves is not the same

Before delving into why there are those who make this resource a common practice, it is important to know how to differentiate an explanation from an excuse. The first has to do with clarifying something, with giving details, clarifying, illustrating, crediting or elucidating. Now the justification goes a little further and what is sought is to demonstrate that something is fair, correct or valid.

For example, it is justified who has done something wrong to guarantee and make others see that what has been done has meaning and purpose. “If I lied to you about that information, it is because I wanted to protect you; if I copied in that exam it was because I needed to pass it at all costs because otherwise, they will deny me the scholarship ”.

That is to say, in some way, people who justify themselves excessively, what they also do is avoid responsibilities and not want to face certain realities.

The power of cognitive dissonance and its effects

Anyone who resorts to justifications finds it necessary to defend himself because he is aware that certain things do not harmonize with his values, beliefs, with what he was going to do and finally has not done, etc. We call this cognitive dissonance and it defines those situations in which you have two opposite cognitions (thoughts) and you suffer for it.

Dissonance hurts, bothers and disturbs in any circumstance because it directly attacks one’s own self-concept and self-esteem.

For example, if I have always defended environmentalism and veganism, it can be contradictory that I have a car that pollutes excessively and also eats meat.

To defend myself and avoid cognitive dissonance, I can come up with the most fabulous justifications to try to convince others that my behavior is logical. Although obviously, these arguments will not always make sense or logic. This is what happens to people who justify themselves excessively, who sooner or later lose their credibility.

Over-justified people and the need to avoid regrets

Claude Steele, from Stanford University, already conducted a study in the late 1990s to show us the need for people to justify ourselves in order to maintain the integrity of the self. Now, there is another interesting factor that we must consider and that is to reduce the regrets.

A common fact that we often see is how people who commit reprehensible behaviors justify themselves not to admit the error and also reduce the woodworm of remorse. For example, if I commit to carry out a project with a team of people and finally leave them abandoned, I find myself obliged to justify myself by telling them, for example, that they can do this job much better without me because they have better skills and competencies. .

Besides a bad justification it is a falsehood, but with that argument, I appease my regrets, I feel better and I get out of the way. Therefore, as we can see, the psychology of justifications has great complexity behind it. The most appropriate in all cases is to make use of these cognitive resources on rare occasions. Otherwise, we will lose credibility.