“The problems begin when cognitive dissonance causes rationalization, and people begin justifying their behaviour to be righteous and fool themselves into believing that this is unquestioning observance. “
exactly! yes!
although that boyfriend example is ridiculous because that person is trying to cover something he knows he wishes wasn’t true. A better example is someone who is not qualified, tactlessly giving tochacha inappropriately, possibly doing more harm than good.
(was your omission of what happens here in the CR deliberate or cognitive dissonance?)