I think a lot of creative people are uncomfortable with therapy. Because you're basically trying to 'solve' the unconscious. And the unconscious is where it all comes from.
Sydney PollackRead
Self-justification, therefore, is not only about protecting high self-esteem; it's also about protecting low self-esteem if that is how a person sees himself.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Self-justification serves to protect one's self-esteem, whether high or low.
Elliot Aronson's quote illuminates the human tendency to engage in self-justification as a means of safeguarding one's self-image. This behavior is not solely reserved for those with high self-esteem; individuals with low self-esteem also seek to defend their self-perception, highlighting the complexities of human psychology and the need for individuals to reconcile their internal views with external realities.
Themes
Self-JustificationSelf-EsteemPsychologySelf-ImageDefense Mechanism
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a psychology class to discuss defense mechanisms.
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