What is the defense mechanism that provides self-justifying explanations for one's actions?

Rationalization is a defense mechanism where individuals provide self-justifying explanations for their behaviors or actions, often to avoid the discomfort of facing the true reasons behind those actions. This mechanism helps individuals maintain their self-esteem and protect their ego by framing their behavior in a more acceptable manner.

For example, if someone fails an exam, they might rationalize their failure by claiming that the exam was unfair or that they didn't really care about the subject. This allows them to alleviate feelings of guilt or shame about not having studied enough or prepared adequately.

In contrast, displacement involves redirecting emotions from a real source of distress to a safer target, while reaction formation is characterized by expressing feelings that are the opposite of one's true feelings. Sublimation channels unacceptable impulses into socially acceptable activities, such as turning aggressive urges into sports or creative outlets. These mechanisms do not focus on self-justification to the same extent as rationalization, which specifically aims to provide a logical discourse around one's actions to mitigate negative self-assessment.