The behavior of over-justifying is a pattern of behavior that can manifest itself in different ways in daily life. Some people tend to constantly look for reasons and excuses to explain their actions, decisions or behaviors, even when it is not necessary. This type of behavior can have various underlying causes and leads to various consequences both at the individual level and in interpersonal relationships.
Possible Causes of Excessive Justification
Insecurity and Low Self-Esteem
One of the possible causes of the tendency to justify oneself excessively may be insecurity and low self-esteem. People who do not fully trust themselves tend to feel the need to explain every action or decision they make, in an attempt to validate their choices and gain external approval. Insecurity can lead to a constant search for validation and an irrational fear of rejection, which translates into a tendency to justify excessively.
Fear of Judgment and Criticism
Other The common cause of over-justifying behavior is the fear of judgment and criticism from others. Those people who fear being judged negatively by those around them tend to anticipate possible criticism by explaining their actions or decisions in advance. This fear may be related to past experiences of criticism or rejection, and leads to a constant need to justify every step they take.
Perfectionism
Perfectionism can also be a cause of excessively justifying behavior. People who have very high standards for themselves tend to be more critical of their own actions and decisions. This can lead them to feel the need to explain in detail every choice they make, in an attempt to demonstrate that they are doing things the right way. Perfectionism can generate constant internal pressure that manifests itself in the tendency to justify excessively.
Consequences of Excessive Justification
Generates Distrust
One of the The main consequences of justifying oneself excessively are that it can generate distrust in interpersonal relationships. When a person constantly looks for excuses and explanations for everything they do, it can give the impression that they are not sincere or that they are hiding something. This can lead others to doubt the truthfulness of your words and actions, which can affect trust in the relationship.
Causes Mental and Emotional Fatigue
Another consequence of tendency to justify excessively is that it can cause mental and emotional fatigue in the person who does it. The continuous effort of finding justifications for everything you do can be cognitively and emotionally exhausting. This can lead to an increase in stress, anxiety and a feeling of overload, as the person constantly finds themselves in the need to defend and explain themselves.
Interferes with Effective Communication
Excessive justifying behavior can also interfere with effective communication with others. When a person focuses on finding justifications for their actions instead of actively listening to their interlocutor, communication is affected. This can make it difficult to build solid and meaningful relationships, since the person focuses more on defending themselves than on understanding others.
In conclusion, the tendency to justify oneself excessively can have various causes, such as insecurity. , fear of judgment and perfectionism, and lead to consequences such as the generation of distrust, mental and emotional fatigue, and interference in effective communication. Recognizing this pattern of behavior and working on its management can be essential to improve self-esteem, strengthen interpersonal relationships, and promote greater emotional and mental well-being.