Implications of "Rationalizing-thinking" versus "Rational-thinking"

Because of the backwards-looking nature of Rationalizing-thinking processes, the person who engages in that practice focuses on the evidence that supports the view that their decisions are righteous and discounts all evidence that implies that they are at least partially responsible for poor outcomes. Limitations on human mental processing capacity means this happens over time as the story is combed through and tweaked. The "narrative" of the Rationalizing-thinker morphs over time as it is edited and as new "events" occur that must be explained.

That contrasts to the Rational thinker whose view of incoming data is agnostic. The data enables the Rational thinker to change directions or fine-tune a current direction. He EXPECTS to change and make adjustments.

Narcissists are the ultimate Rationalizing thinkers. They are vindictive...because they are always right and their actions are always righteous and justified. Woe unto the mortal who crosses the Narcissist! Penalties are extreme and mercy does not exist.

The human mind is malleable and conforms to our actions (cognitive dissonance). We become what we do. Our cultural tolerance for Rationalizing thinking, our ENCOURAGEMENT for Rationalizing thinking, creates people with narcissistic traits.

The pathological shirking of responsibility comes at a personal cost to the person with Narcissistic traits. For one thing, it "proves" that the Narcissist is powerless since outside agents invariably cause them to fail. That turns them into very angry, very unforgiving people. Eventually, they run out of people in their lives to reject. Some of them turn to cats and box-wine and television.

Originally intended as humor...but it applies here

I'm a man, but I can change, if I have to, I guess.

Not a prayer a Rationalizing-thinker would entertain. The Narcissist changes history, not themselves.