Rationalize Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

Psychology

• Rationalization is a defense mechanism where people distort facts to make themselves feel better about a decision.
• Psychologists often study how rationalization can affect relationships and personal growth.
• It can lead to cognitive dissonance, where a person holds conflicting beliefs or attitudes.

Cognitive Science

• The brain often defaults to rationalizing decisions to maintain a self-image of being logical.
• Rationalization can lead to biases; for instance, people often use it to defend their preferences or choices.
• Studies show that when faced with ambiguous information, humans increasingly rationalize to reduce uncertainty.

Business and Economics

• In business, rationalization can refer to the process of reorganizing a company to improve efficiency.
• Economists examine how rationalization can affect market decisions, influencing consumer behavior.
• The term is often used in discussions about cost-cutting measures in organizations.

Literature

• Rationalization often appears in literary characters who justify their flawed actions to avoid guilt.
• Classic literature frequently explores themes of rationalization, showcasing how it can lead to tragic outcomes.
• Authors like Albert Camus and Fyodor Dostoevsky delve into the psychological complexity of characters’ justification of their choices.

Main points about word origin

• The term comes from the Latin word 'rationalis,' meaning 'of or belonging to reason.'
• It was first used in English in the early 20th century, often in psychological contexts.
• The prefix 'rational-' relates to reason, while the suffix '-ize' indicates the process of making something.

The word 'rationalize' originated in the mid-17th century from the Latin word 'rationalis', meaning 'endowed with reason'. It was initially used in a philosophical context to describe the process of explaining or justifying something based on reason. Over time, the term was adopted in mathematics to refer to the process of simplifying or making sense of an expression or equation. Today, 'rationalize' is commonly used in both mathematical and general contexts to describe the act of making something more logical or understandable.

See also: irrational, rationalist, rationalization.

With rank #19,228, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.

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• 19227 subjunctive
• 19228 rationalize
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