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Using rationalisations to fit your specific, unconscious beliefs - how is that process called?

Psychology & Neuroscience Asked on April 2, 2021

Introdution:

Sometimes we build our reasoning and decisions on more or less rational reasoning which consists of logical steps of thought. Let’s say, it basically follows this path: problem >> reasoning >> decision.

At other times, though, our decisions do not come as a consequence of specific steps of thought, but rather as an unconscious attempt to fit our pre-existing beliefs or emotions.

Example 1:
A person is seriously ill and considering various treatment options. A reasoning approach would be to get information about the pro-s and con-s of each, consult with several experienced professionals, outline and weigh potential risks/ chances of success/ cost/ etc. The belief-fitting approach would be to go for a quack. In this latter case, the inherent belief would be that "it could not be true that I am irreversibly ill". Whatever facts and explanations that person is given, his mind would seek all possible ways to justify that belief (rationalize it).

Example 2:
Another example would be repressed anger – the mind would seek any situation, no matter if actually connected with the original cause for that anger, to vent out in an outburst. Note that the term "rationalization" is not appropriate here, as we are not speaking about a decision process, but rather about an emotional reaction.

Example 3:
Someone’s deep belief is that he does not deserve to be a happy person in life. Hence, he unconsciously ends up in situations which are putting him down (low paid job, abusive spouse, unreliable friends, etc), perpetuating a vicious cycle. (I think Carl Jung pays attention to such patterns.)


Question:

My question is, what is the term for this mental process where deeply rooted beliefs and emotions, unconsciously predetermine our decisions/ emotional states/ social relations?


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