Rationalization Defense Mechanism
The defense mechanism, Rationalization is when an individual engages in "controversial" behaviors or feelings, and the individual rationalizes why he or she is engaging in these behaviors or feelings. Individuals who rationalize their behaviors or feelings, also have explanations as to why their actions are acceptable, and should not be judged by other people. Individuals do this when something happens to them, in which they find difficult to accept, people then make up a logical reason as to why it happened. This happens when people do something that is morally incorrect but people do not want their ego to hurt because of this. An example of an individual engaging in the defense mechanism of rationalization, is if a person does not get accepted into a desired university, the person then states "Great, I did not really want to go there anyway, their campus has a low graduation rate."
As a parent to an adventurous toddler, I feel like I rationalize all of the time. There are times where my daughter hurts herself, playing or something and I often tell her "See it is because you were not careful enough" When in reality, it should have been my job to keep a closer eye on her when she is playing. Or even when I get into discussions with my significant other, and I say something that I know deep inside is morally incorrect, but to not hurt my ego, I will rationalize and say that I said that because he made me so angry.
I see students engage in this defense mechanism quite often at work, especially when working with eighth grade students whose ego/the way they appear to their peers, is everything at this stage in their life. When talking to students who have a bad grade in my class, one-on-one, I ask these students why they have a low grade in my class. I have had students say things like "Well I'm not the only one who doesn't do my work." Or "Middle school grades do not matter anyway, it is not the end of the world." These students immediately went on to rationalize why their low grade should be acceptable, instead of accepting their low grade, and discussing strategies to increase their grade instead. I think even as educators we rationalize our actions with certain students as well, for example, sending students out due to their misbehavior or choosing certain consequences, as an educator I rationalize my actions with students.
As a parent to an adventurous toddler, I feel like I rationalize all of the time. There are times where my daughter hurts herself, playing or something and I often tell her "See it is because you were not careful enough" When in reality, it should have been my job to keep a closer eye on her when she is playing. Or even when I get into discussions with my significant other, and I say something that I know deep inside is morally incorrect, but to not hurt my ego, I will rationalize and say that I said that because he made me so angry.
I see students engage in this defense mechanism quite often at work, especially when working with eighth grade students whose ego/the way they appear to their peers, is everything at this stage in their life. When talking to students who have a bad grade in my class, one-on-one, I ask these students why they have a low grade in my class. I have had students say things like "Well I'm not the only one who doesn't do my work." Or "Middle school grades do not matter anyway, it is not the end of the world." These students immediately went on to rationalize why their low grade should be acceptable, instead of accepting their low grade, and discussing strategies to increase their grade instead. I think even as educators we rationalize our actions with certain students as well, for example, sending students out due to their misbehavior or choosing certain consequences, as an educator I rationalize my actions with students.
Comments
Post a Comment