When logic isnt logical

When you rationalize, emotions are thrown out the window, right?
Wrong.

There is this thing called "backwards rationalisation", which is essentially a more impressive-sounding name for Making Excuses For Ourselves. I mentioned this to a friend last night, but only fleetingly, so I thought I'd offer a better explanation.

Backwards rationalisation basically involves making up reasons to rationalise for yourself why you did a particular action - an action that we would otherwise regret. An example is when a customer buys something he doesn't need. At the time of the transaction, he is so emotionally attached to the product, swayed by the words and vivid imagery conjured up by the salesman; but after the sale has been made he experiences buyer's remorse. Since he can't possibly ask for a refund, he might as well rationalise the purchase, just so he might feel better about his own judgment.

It is essentially a cognitive mechanism designed to defend our own identities. Humans all like to be in control, or like to think they're in control. We jab at buttons even after jabbing buttons clearly doesn't get a response. Which is why, when we've done something that runs contrary to our belief systems, we tend to twist the facts such that reality is once again congruent with our ideologies. Failing to do so would result in some killer cognitive dissonance, with our own sanity at stake.

It can be seen as a good or bad thing. I personally believe that it's a darned useful tool when you need to escape the truth for a while to consolidate your sanity. The danger is in not knowing what your mind is hiding from yourself, and remaining oblivious to the truth.