The Gorko Gazette

RATIONALIZATION STUDIES

Master of Arts in Rationalization Studies – Program Description

The University of Michigan’s Master of Arts in Rationalization Studies (MARS) program provides students with theoretical and practical training in recognizing and utilizing rationalization techniques in a world where absolute truths are increasingly ignored in favor of protecting the fragile human psyche from the shame brought about by either making a mistake or simply acting in one’s self-interest.  This 30-credit program is designed for international and U.S. students seeking to understand:

• the history of how humans have implemented rationalization techniques to avoid unpleasant and/or inconvenient truths, 
• what differentiates effective rationalization (e.g., likely to be deemed acceptable to peers) from ineffective rationalization, and
• how graduates can maximize their use of rationalization to justify professional decision-making and minimize the negative impacts on their self-esteem that would be caused by having to acknowledge errors in judgment.  

The program, which is typically completed in 18 months of full-time course work, requires study in the areas of psychology, sociology, philosophy, theater, and religious studies.  This program must be completed in Ann Arbor in order for students to benefit from the wide variety of guest speakers who visit campus, some of whom speak only to MARS students.  Graduates of this degree program will be well positioned to work in the for-profit, government, advertising, and social media sectors. 

Admission

Applicants must meet all the graduate admission requirements outlined by the Rackham Graduate School (see here) as well as demonstrate adequate preparation for successful study in the program.  Central to the review process, candidates will be asked to document their previous experience utilizing rationalization techniques by describing one or two personal instances when they rationalized their actions (must be post-high school and include an acknowledgement of what led them to the recognition that rationalizing was occurring).  

Program Course Requirements 

Semester 1

RS112: History of Rationalized Activity I – Religious conflicts and persecution through to imperialism and slavery.  3 credits

RS115: A Rationalization for Rationalizing – Exploring why it has now become acceptable to act for selfish purposes and/or without thinking.  3 credits

RS118: What Characterizes Effective Rationalization? – How to explain your actions so as to avoid bothersome questions, maximize your self-image, and minimize claims of hypocrisy.  3 credits

Semester 2

RS122: History of Rationalized Activity II – Disentitlement of women through to stolen elections, climate change denial, and the Ukrainian invasion.  3 credits

RS125: Risks of Not Rationalizing – Review of research on damage caused when individuals and groups of people acknowledge their mistakes and/or choose to not pursue their desires.  3 credits

RS126: Benefits of Rationalization – Review of research on benefits to individuals and groups of people who have rationalized their decisions and maintained an unsullied self-esteem.  3 credits

Semester 3

RS131: How to Rationalize – Developing an awareness for when rationalization can/should be utilized, eliminating the instinct to avoid moral contradictions, and accumulating a compendium of possible explanations for those choices that are susceptible to criticism.  3 credits

RS138: Psychology of an Effective Rationalizer, – Analyzing the profiles of effective rationalizers from recent history, including an exploration of the parenting techniques found to yield children who become confident and accomplished rationalizers.  3 credits

RS139: Group Rationalization – Evaluating how and when an individual’s attempt to explain or justify their inappropriate behavior, or attitude(s), morphs into a collective experience (e.g. “groupthink” and cults).  3 credits

Internship (Taken during or after semester 3)

RS145: Rationalization Practical Internship (RPI) – Placements have historically been available with local, state, and federal politicians; finance directors and tax accountants; journalists and mass media editors; corporate CEOs; and select members of the judiciary.  Students write a 30+ page report documenting the lessons learned during their internship.  3 credits

Anticipated Outcomes

Studies conducted by The University of Michigan Rackham Graduate School have documented that MARS Degree graduates are more likely to advance in their careers, and make more money, than peers unlearned in the benefits of rationalization.  MARS graduates were also found to experience less guilt, receive less criticism, and maintain higher levels of self-respect than non-graduates with comparable predilections (e.g., others with a propensity towards self-indulgence and deceit).

Author’s note: This is a work of fiction.  If The University of Michigan were to offer a program like this,
I’m sure they would have a good explanation for it.

Image generated on Magic Studio

ABOUT bob gielow

A college administrator by day, Bob Gielow (he/him) spins tales in formats we all use when communicating with each other: text messages, emails, fictional Wikipedia posts, and diary entries all allow him to be clinical and thorough in describing his characters, their thinking and actions … without diminishing his ability to explore the resulting human emotions. 

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