Justification
The technique of retroactively providing a logical reason for an unusual choice, line, or behavior that has already occurred in a scene. Rather than denying or ignoring a confusing offer, the improviser finds a way to make it make sense within the world of the scene. Justification turns potential mistakes into intentional choices.
Further Reading
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Pirate Robot Ninja
An Improv Fable
Billy Merritt; Will Hines
Improvising Cinema
Gilles Mouëllic
The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual
Matt Besser; Ian Roberts; Matt Walsh
Improvising Now
A Practical Guide to Modern Improv
Rob Norman
A Subversive's Guide to Improvisation
Moving Beyond "Yes, and"
David Razowsky
Improv Beyond Rules
A Practical Guide to Narrative Improvisation
Adam Meggido
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Justification. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/justification
The Improv Archive. "Justification." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/justification.
The Improv Archive. "Justification." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/learn-improv/concepts/justification. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.