>In psychology and logic, rationalization or rationalisation (also known as making excuses) is a defense mechanism in which controversial behaviors or feelings are justified and explained in a seemingly rational or logical manner to avoid the true explanation, and are made consciously tolerable—or even admirable and superior—by plausible means.
Is there a scientific concept for what Freud called "rationalization"? Freud's theories are infamously not considered scientific nowadays. But then is there a scientific name for the following phenomena?
>Anon keeps furiously arguing on 4chan about something, writing walls of text about it
>he's doing it because he's insecure, his self-esteem is low and he fears that anonymous people he's never met are going to think of him as stupid if he doesn't substantiate his opinion with epic proofs
>but he doesn't admit it
>he thinks he's actually having fun and just laughing at how all those other retarded anons cannot see the truth, therefore he's not wasting his time, he's enjoying himself
Is this not "rationalization"? Obviously a paper-thin example but you get the idea.