Describe cognitive dissonance and how people reduce it.

Describe cognitive dissonance and how people reduce it.

• A. Cognitive dissonance is psychological discomfort from holding conflicting cognitions; individuals may change beliefs, justify behavior, or trivialize inconsistency.
• B. Cognitive dissonance is a mood disorder characterized by persistent sadness.
• C. Cognitive dissonance occurs only in groups.
• D. Cognitive dissonance is a memory error in recall.

Answer: (A)

Cognitive dissonance is the psychological discomfort that arises when a person holds two or more conflicting cognitions, or when their behavior clashes with their beliefs, values, or attitudes. This tension motivates people to reduce the inconsistency. They might change one belief to align with their actions, justify or rationalize the behavior so it seems acceptable, or add new cognitions that reconcile the conflict. For example, someone who cares about health but smokes might downplay the risks, rationalize that the stress relief is worth it, or adopt a belief that “everything in moderation” makes the habit tolerable. This phenomenon is about internal conflict and its resolution, not a mood disorder, not something limited to groups, and not a memory error.

Cognitive dissonance is the psychological discomfort that arises when a person holds two or more conflicting cognitions, or when their behavior clashes with their beliefs, values, or attitudes. This tension motivates people to reduce the inconsistency. They might change one belief to align with their actions, justify or rationalize the behavior so it seems acceptable, or add new cognitions that reconcile the conflict. For example, someone who cares about health but smokes might downplay the risks, rationalize that the stress relief is worth it, or adopt a belief that “everything in moderation” makes the habit tolerable. This phenomenon is about internal conflict and its resolution, not a mood disorder, not something limited to groups, and not a memory error.