I’ve had a number of observations and thoughts recently about behavior that were hard to articulate, but terms and definitions of concepts below capture them well.

All surround ethical inconsistency, status-based morality, and my favorite virtue signaling (prioritizing the apperance of goodness over the reality of it).

Motivated Reasoning

The tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms preexisting beliefs or aligns with one's identity or emotional needs.

“People support equality—but only when it benefits them.”

Cognitive Dissonance

The mental discomfort that arises from holding two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes at the same time.

"A person advocates for sustainability but frequently orders fast fashion online without considering the impact.”

Hypocrisy

Claiming to uphold a certain value while acting in ways that contradict it.

“People support equality—but only when it benefits them.”

Selective Idealism / Selective Outrage

The tendency to interpret information in a way that confirms preexisting beliefs or aligns with one's identity or emotional needs. Applying values or standards only when it's convenient or emotionally resonant, while ignoring similar cases that don’t fit the preferred narrative.

"People protest against AI replacing illustrators, but never question the automation of factory or warehouse jobs."

Inconsistent Application of Principles

Supporting a principle in one context, but not in another—often without realizing the inconsistency.

“People support equality—but only when it benefits them.” or “People push for free speech but try to silence opinions they disagree with on social media."

This was a nice summary explaining said behaviors.

People want to see themselves—and be seen by others—as good, consistent, and rational. But the world is messy, and we’re full of contradictions. So instead of being perfectly consistent, we often bend reality to protect our identity, emotions, or social standing.

1. Motivated reasoning happens because we want our beliefs to be true. So we prioritize evidence that confirms them and ignore what challenges them. It’s not always conscious—it’s protective.
2. Cognitive dissonance kicks in when our behavior doesn’t match our beliefs. To avoid the discomfort, we either change the belief or justify the behavior. Often, we rewrite the narrative to make ourselves feel okay.
3. Hypocrisy isn’t always malicious—it’s often a blind spot. People hold conflicting values and don't always examine how they play out in practice. It's easier to preach than to live up to the standard.
4. Selective idealism / outrage happens when people apply values inconsistently—usually based on emotion, identity, or loyalty. We’re more forgiving of behavior in people or causes we identify with, and harsher toward those we don’t.