Why do people try to justify their hate, I truly don't understand

Usually its not conscious. They assume they are on the right side of history, of issues, of group-conflicts — so the subconscious momentum errs on the side of conserving the core, while only editing the outer crust when clashing with outsiders.

In other words, they assume they’re the protagonist first, then reverse-engineer philosophy to fit the social situation after.

That’s why the backfire-effect exists: why, when you hit somebody’s core belief, they double down even if they’re flat wrong. Because subconsciously you’re saying “you’re not a protagonist here, you’re the villian” — and since they know themselves to be non-villains, they deny anything that cuts to the core of their worldview by doubling down no matter what.

/r/TrueOffMyChest Thread Parent