KhizooologyMistakes Were Made (But Not by Me)
Protecting your self-image can protect a mistake.
Big Idea
Tavris and Aronson argue that people can defend harmful decisions to reduce the discomfort of seeing themselves as mistaken.
Cognitive Dissonance
Conflicting beliefs or actions can feel uncomfortable enough to invite a reassuring explanation.
Self-Justification
Preserving an image of being sensible can become more important than correcting an error.
Escalating Commitment
A small defended decision can make the next, larger commitment easier to justify.
Relationships
Treating your own actions generously and another person’s harshly can deepen an existing conflict.
Owning the Error
Admitting a mistake creates a chance to repair it without declaring your entire self worthless.
- A psychological explanation does not remove responsibility for harm.
Khizooo Take
Separate the statement that an action was wrong from the claim that a person can never improve.
Remember
Repair becomes possible when defending the mistake stops.