Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) — Deep Dive (Self-Justification & Cognitive Dissonance)
Welcome to Crisis in Perception. In this episode, we explore Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) — Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson’s influential investigation into self-justification, cognitive dissonance, and the psychological mechanisms that keep us from seeing our own errors clearly. This Deep Dive examines why admitting mistakes feels threatening, how we unconsciously rationalize harmful decisions, and why these mental habits can escalate personal, professional, and societal problems. Drawing from decades of psychological research, the episode reveals how self-justification shapes…
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