What is cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort experienced when an individual holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes, especially when they clash with their behaviors. This discomfort creates a motivating force that encourages the individual to reduce the inconsistency. As a result, individuals may change their beliefs, modify their actions, or rationalize their choices to restore harmony between their thoughts and behaviors.

For instance, if someone values health but smokes cigarettes, they may experience dissonance. To resolve this, they might quit smoking, downplay the risks of smoking, or adopt a healthier behavior to align with their value of health. This fundamental principle in cognitive psychology illustrates why people often strive for consistency between their cognitive beliefs and their actions.