What term describes the refusal to believe or accept reality?

Denial is a psychological defense mechanism in which a person refuses to accept the reality of a situation or the truth of an event. This term is often used in various contexts, including mental health, addiction, and coping with trauma. Individuals in denial may reject evidence that contradicts their beliefs or feelings, leading them to live in a distorted sense of reality. This can manifest in various ways, such as minimizing the significance of a problem or refusing to acknowledge personal challenges.

Other terms presented, like acceptance, rationalization, and justification, encompass different cognitive processes. Acceptance involves coming to terms with reality and acknowledging it, which is the opposite of denial. Rationalization refers to explaining away behaviors or feelings with logical reasons, while justification points to providing reasons or arguments to support actions or beliefs. In contrast, denial specifically denotes an outright refusal to recognize or confront reality. This makes it uniquely relevant to the question, emphasizing the importance of understanding how we cope with uncomfortable truths in our lives.