What is cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort that arises when an individual holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. This internal conflict often leads to feelings of unease or tension because the person is unable to reconcile these contradictions. For instance, if someone values health but also smokes cigarettes, they might experience cognitive dissonance due to the clash between their behavior and their health beliefs.

The theory of cognitive dissonance suggests that people are motivated to reduce this discomfort by either changing their beliefs or attitudes, justifying their behavior, or acquiring new information to align their thoughts and actions. This phenomenon highlights how people strive for internal consistency and how dissonance can serve as a catalyst for personal change or decision-making. Understanding cognitive dissonance is crucial in psychology as it sheds light on how beliefs influence behaviors and vice versa.