rationalisation
Explaining away behavior
Rationalisation is the British spelling of rationalization.
It means the process of making something more efficient or logical, often by reorganizing or streamlining: The company's rationalisation led to widespread layoffs.
In psychology, rationalisation is constructing plausible justifications for behavior actually driven by other motives: His explanation was pure rationalisation—he just didn't want to go.
Unconscious self-protective mental process
- justificationReason proving rightness
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
- denialRefusal to accept reality
cognitive dissonance · explanation · minimization · blame-shifting · unconscious · Freud · motivated reasoning · mental gymnastics
Rearranging an existing framework
- downsizingReducing workforce or scale
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
- efficiencyProductive without waste
- layoffsMass job eliminations
cost-cutting · redundancy · consolidation · optimization · reorganization · workforce reduction · synergy · outsourcing
Drawing logical conclusions
- systematic thinkingOrganized problem-solving method
- logical analysisMethodical examination of reasoning
- deductionConclusion from premises
- explanationStatement making something clear
interpretation · theorizing · sense-making · argumentation · inference · grounds · basis · justification
Implementing uniform technical specifications
- mass productionLarge-scale standardized fabrication
- TaylorismSystematic workflow optimization theory
- scientific managementTheory optimizing labor efficiency
- assembly lineSequential workstation manufacturing
process improvement · mechanization · systematization · modernization · centralization · specialization · division of labor · Fordism
defense mechanism
Unconscious self-protective mental process
- justificationReason proving rightness
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
- self-deceptionConvincing yourself of falsehoods
denial · cognitive dissonance · explanation · minimization · blame-shifting · unconscious · Freud · motivated reasoning · mental gymnastics · excuse-making
restructuring
Rearranging an existing framework
- downsizingReducing workforce or scale
- streamliningMaking more aerodynamic or efficient
- efficiencyProductive without waste
layoffs · cost-cutting · redundancy · consolidation · optimization · reorganization · workforce reduction · synergy · outsourcing · automation
reasoning
Drawing logical conclusions
- systematic thinkingOrganized problem-solving method
- logical analysisMethodical examination of reasoning
- deductionConclusion from premises
explanation · interpretation · theorizing · sense-making · argumentation · inference · grounds · basis · justification
standardization
Implementing uniform technical specifications
- mass productionLarge-scale standardized fabrication
- TaylorismSystematic workflow optimization theory
- scientific managementTheory optimizing labor efficiency
assembly line · process improvement · mechanization · systematization · modernization · centralization · specialization · division of labor · Fordism · production planning
rationalisationself-awareness
Insight into one's psyche
introspection · confession · brutal honesty · acknowledgment · owning up
rationalisationrationality
Sound judgment quality
rational thinking · evidence-based reasoning · critical thinking · logical deduction · intellectual rigor
reason, rational, irrational, rationale, rationality, rationalism, irrationally, irrationality, rationalist