Mistakes Were Made, but Not by Me

1. Self-justification is the engine of cognitive dissonance

Dissonance is disquieting because to hold two ideas that contradict each other is to flirt with absurdity and, as Albert Camus observed, we humans are creatures who spend our lives trying to convince ourselves that our existence is not absurd.

Cognitive dissonance is the uncomfortable feeling that arises when we hold contradictory beliefs or when our actions contradict our beliefs. To alleviate this discomfort, we engage in self-justification, often without realizing it. This process can lead us to:

• Rationalize poor decisions
• Cling to mistaken beliefs
• Overlook our own biases and shortcomings

Self-justification serves as a protective mechanism for our ego, but it can also prevent us from learning from our mistakes and improving ourselves. Examples of self-justification in action include:

• A smoker convincing themselves that the health risks are exaggerated
• A politician doubling down on a failed policy rather than admitting error
• A student blaming a poor grade on an unfair teacher rather than lack of preparation

Understanding the power of self-justification can help us become more aware of our own thought processes and make more rational decisions.

2. Memory is a self-justifying historian, not an accurate record

What we ... refer to confidently as memory ... is really a form of storytelling that goes on continually in the mind and often changes with the telling.

Our memories are malleable, constantly being reshaped to fit our current beliefs and self-image. This process of memory reconstruction can lead to:

• Exaggerating our past successes
• Minimizing our failures and mistakes
• Creating entirely false memories

Research has shown that our memories are highly susceptible to suggestion and can be easily distorted. For example:

• Eyewitness testimony, once considered highly reliable, is now known to be often inaccurate
• People can be led to "remember" events that never occurred through suggestive questioning
• Our recollections of past events often change to align with our current views and beliefs

Understanding the unreliability of memory is crucial in fields such as law enforcement, psychology, and historical research. It also highlights the importance of external records and corroboration in verifying past events.

3. Blind spots prevent us from recognizing our own biases and mistakes

The brain is designed with blind spots, optical and psychological, and one of its cleverest tricks is to confer on us the comforting delusion that we, personally, do not have any.

We all have blind spots that prevent us from seeing our own biases, mistakes, and limitations. These blind spots are a natural result of our cognitive processes and serve to protect our self-esteem. However, they can also lead to:

• Overconfidence in our own abilities and judgments
• Failure to recognize our own prejudices and misconceptions
• Difficulty in accepting criticism or contrary evidence

Examples of common blind spots include:

• The "above average effect": Most people rate themselves as above average in various skills and traits
• Confirmation bias: We tend to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs
• The illusion of control: Overestimating our ability to influence events

Recognizing and acknowledging our own blind spots is a crucial step towards more objective thinking and personal growth. Techniques for overcoming blind spots include:

• Actively seeking out diverse perspectives
• Regularly challenging our own assumptions
• Being open to feedback and criticism from others

4. Clinical judgment can create a closed loop of self-reinforcing beliefs

If the new information is consonant with our beliefs, we think it is well founded and useful: "Just what I always said!" But if the new information is dissonant, then we consider it biased or foolish: "What a dumb argument!"

Clinical judgment, while often valuable, can sometimes lead to a closed loop of self-reinforcing beliefs. This is particularly problematic in fields like psychology and medicine, where practitioners may:

• Interpret ambiguous evidence as supporting their preexisting theories
• Dismiss contradictory evidence as flawed or irrelevant
• Overestimate the accuracy of their own judgments and diagnoses

The closed loop of clinical judgment can have serious consequences, such as:

• Misdiagnosis of mental health conditions
• Persistence of ineffective or harmful treatments
• Resistance to new scientific evidence and methods

To avoid these pitfalls, clinicians and researchers should:

• Embrace skepticism and the scientific method
• Regularly seek out and consider alternative viewpoints
• Be willing to revise their beliefs in light of new evidence

The importance of evidence-based practice and continuous learning cannot be overstated in fields that rely heavily on clinical judgment.

5. The criminal justice system is vulnerable to self-justification errors

Combine perpetrators who have high self-esteem and victims who are helpless, and you have a recipe for the escalation of brutality.

The criminal justice system is particularly susceptible to errors caused by self-justification, as the stakes are high and the consequences of mistakes can be severe. Common issues include:

• Confirmation bias in police investigations
• False confessions obtained through coercive interrogation techniques
• Prosecutor reluctance to admit mistakes or consider exonerating evidence

These self-justification errors can lead to wrongful convictions and miscarriages of justice. Examples of systemic problems include:

• The "tunnel vision" effect, where investigators focus solely on evidence supporting their initial suspicions
• The difficulty in admitting and correcting mistakes once a conviction has been obtained
• The tendency to view defendants as guilty until proven innocent, rather than the reverse

To address these issues, reforms in the criminal justice system should focus on:

• Implementing safeguards against cognitive biases in investigations and trials
• Encouraging a culture of accountability and willingness to admit errors
• Providing better training on the psychology of decision-making and self-justification

6. Conflict escalates through reciprocal self-justification

Every successful revolution, observed the historian Barbara Tuchman, puts on in time the robes of the tyrant it has deposed.

Conflicts often escalate through a process of reciprocal self-justification, where each side views their actions as justified responses to the other's provocations. This cycle can lead to:

• Intensification of hostilities
• Dehumanization of the opposing side
• Difficulty in finding peaceful resolutions

Examples of this process can be seen in various contexts:

• International conflicts and wars
• Political polarization
• Personal and family disputes

The escalation of conflict through self-justification often follows a pattern:

1. Initial disagreement or perceived slight
2. Retaliatory action, justified as a response to the other's behavior
3. Counter-retaliation, seen as necessary and justified
4. Escalation of hostilities, with each side viewing themselves as the victim

Breaking this cycle requires:

• Recognition of the role of self-justification in conflict
• Willingness to consider the other side's perspective
• Efforts to de-escalate and find common ground

7. Admitting mistakes is difficult but crucial for growth and progress

The ultimate correction for the tunnel vision that afflicts all of us mortals is more light.

Admitting mistakes is one of the most challenging yet essential aspects of personal and professional growth. The difficulty stems from:

• Our natural tendency towards self-justification
• Fear of damaging our reputation or self-image
• The discomfort of cognitive dissonance

However, the benefits of acknowledging and learning from our errors are significant:

• Improved decision-making and problem-solving skills
• Enhanced credibility and trust from others
• Opportunities for personal and organizational growth

Strategies for cultivating a culture that embraces mistake-making and learning:

• Encourage open communication about errors
• Reward honesty and transparency
• Focus on solutions and improvements rather than blame

Examples of leaders who have successfully admitted and learned from mistakes:

• JFK's handling of the Bay of Pigs fiasco
• Johnson & Johnson's response to the Tylenol tampering crisis

By overcoming our resistance to admitting mistakes, we open ourselves up to tremendous opportunities for learning, growth, and progress.

Last updated: January 22, 2025