How We Rationalize Our Morals: A Qualitative Analysis of Cognitive Dissonance, Rationalization, and Criminal Behavior

Abstract

With the goal of attempting to understand how people rationalize their behaviors when engaging in petty crimes that go against their moral beliefs and create cognitive dissonance, this study was comprised of eight participants that provided their personal experiences. Furthermore, this study’s purpose was to gain a deeper understanding of how people experience cognitive dissonance in terms of thoughts, emotions, and feelings. This included detailing their experiences with cognitive dissonance and engaging in petty criminal activity through an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach. Results from the study indicated multiple themes about how people rationalize decisions that violate their moral beliefs. First, many participants suggested they were not to blame or not responsible for their actions. Another theme revealed time management played a significant role when engaging in petty crimes. Finally, the participants in this study seemed to have a difficult time remembering behaviors from their past when engaging in petty crimes and were unable to remember specific thoughts and emotional reactions to experiencing cognitive dissonance. The implications of the research findings were discussed in terms of clinical applications. Limitations of this study and future research considerations were also identified to continue the process of understanding cognitive dissonance related to petty crimes and decision making in general.