> It creates a narrative to justify our actions to others

I would disagree on that point.

I believe that you create that narrative for yourself, to create an illusion of consciousness. More than that, an illusion of consciousness through time. That's why memories are so easily modified/created by outsiders. That how placebo/nocebo effect works. That's why you create fake memories from a photography, or why you sometimes tries to justify reactions post hoc.

This is also just a theory (inspired by Keith Frankish).