Which defense mechanism involves creating logical reasons to justify emotions, despite a lack of correlation to reality?

Rationalization is a defense mechanism that involves individuals providing logical or plausible reasons to justify their feelings, thoughts, or behaviors, even when these reasons do not accurately reflect the reality of the situation. This mechanism allows a person to maintain self-esteem and avoid facing uncomfortable truths or emotions by creating a fabricated narrative that makes their actions or feelings seem reasonable.

For instance, if someone feels guilty about a questionable decision, they may rationalize it by claiming it was done for the greater good, even if the reality is quite different. This can help them cope with anxiety associated with the actual motivations or consequences of their actions.

In contrast, denial involves refusing to accept the reality of a situation, projection involves attributing one's unacceptable thoughts or feelings onto someone else, and repression involves unconsciously blocking out disturbing thoughts or memories. These mechanisms serve different psychological purposes and do not specifically focus on justifying emotions with logical reasoning.