Why do some people excuse their actions even when they know deep down they are totally wrong?
by 
Charmaine Jay
ANSWERS: 7
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Because it's easier to justify an action than it is to be introspective. People don't spend enough time examining themselves because they are too busy finding fault in others (not all people, but quite a few in my experience). It's hard to admit when you're wrong and harder if you are one of the many that has a need to excuse actions. Could be that the individual in question is just stubborn. Who knows?
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Excuse their own actions? Some people have a philosophy of trying to live life without regrets, so that probably accounts for some of it. Others are sociopathic and just genuinely hate people, therefore any action they take against them is justified in their own minds by the despicable nature of the offended. Then there are the people who exhibit sociopathic behaviors due to an addiction, in which case they may eventually come to understand the error of their ways and even make amends if they seek out and follow a twelve-step program. It is important to note that not all addictions are substance abuse related; people are addicted to rage, sex, work, religion, self-loathing... just about anything you can imagine. That pretty much accounts for everyone in the whole world, doesn't it?
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In defence of self. Probably because they are boxed into a position where they have to defend their decisions or admit they are wrong and for some admitting they are wrong can be devastating to their idea of self - they can't deal with it. It can be an automatic reaction like a little kid caught doing something wrong and automatically lying about it....no thought attached but an automatic self defence... Another reason could be that maybe their actions or decisions are wrong to themselves but they have to live with it or can't undo it and so try to rationlise it to make their actions more acceptable to themselves and to those they care about. Which is another form of self defence
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PRIDE Most people do not want to admit thet they are wrong. therefore if they can reason out their actions by any means they will (to avoid being wrong) The way I see it it takes more work to make your- self look right then to admit your wrong, so why not say I am sorry, I was wrong. (then move on!)
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I think its because they are too embarassed to admit they made a mistake.
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It is easier for most people to be insincere than to be introspective or self-critical.
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Because no one else will excuse them, they have to excuse themselves. Their only relief is from giving themselves reaon to forgive themselves. They fear the topic being brought up again for an apology, it would require admitting that not only the intial action was wrong, but every other action in support of that action was wrong as well and fear of losing more credibility than already lost.
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