Many of us try and justify ourselves and avoid taking responsibility for doing or saying stupid stuff says Eminent social psychologist Elliot Aronson. He's a pioneer in the study of cognitive dissonance, that mental tug of war when our actions don't line up with our values. More than 15 years ago, he co-authored a book that's in its third printing and more relevant now than ever that helps us understand why our brains make excuses for us and what we can do about it.
The book is called Mistakes Were Made (but Not by Me): Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts.
