Rationaliserationalize

Rationaliserationalize is a neologism that blends the words rationalize and rationalization to describe a recursive process in which an initial justification is subjected to further justification. The term highlights meta-justifications and circular reasoning where the rationale for a belief or decision is itself justified by another layer of justification, potentially repeating in a loop. It is not an established technical term in mainstream psychology or logic but is used in philosophical and rhetorical critique to name a pattern of self-supporting reasoning.

In usage, rationaliserationalize is often invoked to discuss cognitive biases such as motivated reasoning and self-deception, where evidence is marshaled to defend a conclusion that was preselected for acceptance. It can appear in analyses of decision making, public policy debate, or online discourse, particularly when participants defend their position by increasingly abstract or self-referential justifications.

Example: A manager advocates a new policy on productivity. When challenged, they claim the policy is effective because it uses robust metrics; when asked why those metrics are trustworthy, they argue that relying on trusted metrics is itself evidence of careful analysis—an instance of rationaliserationalize.

Critics note that the term can be pejorative or ambiguous, and it is not a formal theory. As a lens, it draws attention to the risk that conclusions are sustained more by recursive reassurance than by external evidence, and it connects to discussions of meta-cognition and critical thinking.

See also: Rationalization, Motivated reasoning, Circular argument, Meta-cognition, Self-justification.