Narcissistic Rationalization:

Narcissistic rationalization is a defense mechanism narcissists use to protect their fragile self-esteem, avoid feelings of shame, inadequacy, or vulnerability, and maintain a positive self-image. Narcissists distort reality — minimizing mistakes, exaggerating success, blaming others for failures — to downplay or deny actions contradicting their inflated self and justifying their behavior through self-serving narratives. This involves creating a fantasy world where they’re always right, even when evidence suggests otherwise. For example, if a narcissist makes a mistake at work, instead of admitting fault, they might say the instructions were unclear or someone sabotaged their efforts.