autogiustificazione

Autogiustificazione is an Italian noun that denotes the act of providing justification for one’s own actions, omissions, or motives, often with the aim of avoiding blame or protecting one’s self-image. The term is formed from auto- (self) and giustificazione (justification). It is used in everyday speech as well as in academic, journalistic, and analytical contexts to describe the process of rationalizing behavior rather than presenting an externally validated defense.

In practice, autogiustificazione can be explicit, when someone openly explains reasons to others, or internal, when the justification remains part of the individual’s private reasoning. It is closely related to cognitive and social phenomena such as rationalization, motivated reasoning, and the reduction of cognitive dissonance. While self-generated justifications can help preserve self-esteem and reduce distress after a mistake, they can also hinder accountability and learning if they become habitual or evasive.

In organizational or social settings, frequent autogiustificazione may undermine credibility and trust, particularly if it appears as a tactic to excuse inadequate performance or misconduct. The concept is often discussed critically in contrast to sincere accountability and transparent communication.

Autogiustificazione is distinct from autocertificazione, a formal self-declaration used in administrative or legal contexts to attest facts. See also: giustificazione, razionalizzazione, bias.