Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) Third Edition: Why We Justify Foolish Beliefs, Bad Decisions, and Hurtful Acts

Renowned social psychologists Carol Tavris and Elliot Aronson take a compelling look into how the brain is wired for self-justification. This updated edition concludes with an extended discussion of how we can live with dissonance, learn from it, and perhaps, eventually, forgive ourselves. Why is it so hard to say I made a mistake--and really believe it? When we make mistakes, cling to outdated attitudes, or mistreat other people, we must calm the cognitive dissonance that jars our feelings of self-worth. And so, unconsciously, we create fictions that absolve us of responsibility, restoring our belief that we are smart, moral, and right--a belief that often keeps us on a course that is dumb, immoral, and wrong. Backed by years of research, Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me) offers a fascinating explanation of self-justification--how it works, the damage it can cause, and how we can overcome it. Entertaining, illuminating and--when you recognize yourself in the stories it tells--mortifying.--Wall Street Journal Every page sparkles with sharp insight and keen observation. Mistakes were made--but not in this book!--Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness

About the Author :
CAROL TAVRIS is a social psychologist and author of Anger and The Mismeasure of Woman. She has written for the Los Angeles Times, the New York Times, Scientific American, and many other publications. She lives in Los Angeles. ELLIOT ARONSON is a social psychologist and author of The Social Animal. The recipient of many awards for teaching, scientific research, writing, and contributions to society, he is a professor emeritus at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Review :
A revelatory study of how lovers, lawyers, doctors, politicians--and all of us--pull the wool over our own eyes... Reading it, we recognize the behavior of our leaders, our loved ones, and--if we're honest--ourselves, and some of the more perplexing mysteries of human nature begin to seem a little clearer. -- "O, The Oprah Magazine" Entertaining, illuminating, and--when you recognize yourself in the stories it tells--mortifying. -- "Wall Street Journal" Every page sparkles with sharp insight and keen observation. Mistakes were made--but not in this book! -- " Daniel Gilbert, author of Stumbling on Happiness"