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StillnessReflection

When someone points out that a fact you stated is wrong, there can be a brief urge to explain how you got there. Sometimes the cleanest response is simply: “You're right, thanks.” Not every mistake needs a defence attached to it.

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Mind

The story behind the card

The urge to explain has a name in psychology: cognitive dissonance, described by Leon Festinger in 1957. It is the discomfort of holding two clashing thoughts, such as “I know this” and “I got it wrong”, and justifying ourselves is a quick way to ease it. The psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson trace this habit of self-justification in their 2007 book Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me).

Türkçe oku
Biri söylediğin bir bilginin yanlış olduğunu gösterince, o sonuca nasıl vardığını anlatmak isteyebilirsin. Oysa bazen “Haklısın, sağ ol” demek yeter. Her hatanın arkasından bir savunma gelmesi gerekmez.

Açıklama yapma isteğinin psikolojide bir adı var: Leon Festinger'in 1957'de tanımladığı bilişsel çelişki. İnsan “Bunu biliyorum” ile “Yanıldım” gibi birbiriyle çatışan iki düşünceyi aynı anda taşırken rahatsızlık duyar; kendini haklı çıkarmak bu rahatsızlığı gidermenin kestirme yoludur. Psikologlar Carol Tavris ve Elliot Aronson, 2007'de yayımlanan Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) adlı kitaplarında bu kendini haklı çıkarma alışkanlığının izini sürer.

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