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When homework is assigned what should a student do?
The simple answer is: complete the homework.
Yet, many students respond with statements such as: "I didn’t find time to write ", " I didn’t understand the topic", " I forgot ", "I was unwell/tired", or "I didn’t have the necessary materials".
These statements function as defense. They serve to protect a positive self-image and maintain cognitive consistency.
Psychologists call this behaviour self-justification. Self-justification is a psychological strategy that sheilds positive self-image when one's actions fall short of one's standards.
For example, when students fail to complete their homework the brain experiences a clash between values [ I should] and reality [ I didn’t].
This clash represents a discrepancy between self-perception and actual behaviour.
When our actions break the image we hold of ourselves we experience discomfort. This discomfort is known as cognitive dissonance. To avoid this discomfort we start justifying our actions. The rationales we give help to maintain positive self-image and cognitive consistency.
Although this reaction is natural it prevents learning and development. we can not grow if we continue justifying, rationalising or downplaying our short comings.
Instead of living with false confidence we should embrace discomfort and start to learn and develop ourselves.
