What is the term used for justifying a failure or poor outcome by blaming external factors?

The term that refers to justifying a failure or poor outcome by blaming external factors is rationalization. In this psychological context, rationalization involves creating excuses or explanations that make an individual feel better about a situation, rather than confronting the reality of personal responsibility. This allows individuals to protect their self-esteem and can help them cope with feelings of inadequacy or defeat by attributing their failures to circumstances outside their control, such as other people's actions or unexpected events.

Attribution bias can involve misjudging the causes of one's own or others' behaviors but doesn’t specifically focus on justifying failures through external factors. Defense mechanisms are broader psychological strategies used to cope with reality and maintain self-image, not specifically aimed at justifying failures. Wishful thinking is a form of cognitive distortion where one believes something is true simply because they want it to be, rather than through logical reasoning or evidence. Rationalization, however, directly addresses the act of justifying a failure by shifting the blame away from oneself.