cognitive dissonance theory
the theory that we act to reduce the discomfort (dissonance) we feel when two of our thoughts (cognitions) are inconsistent. For example, when our awareness of our attitudes and of our actions clash, we can reduce the resulting dissonance by changing our attitudes
Cognitive dissonance theory is a psychological theory that explains how people experience psychological discomfort or uneasiness when their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors are inconsistent with one another. The theory posits that when people are confronted with information that contradicts their beliefs or behaviors, they experience cognitive dissonance, a state of internal conflict.
To reduce this conflict or discomfort, people seek to either change their beliefs or behaviors to align with the new information or rationalize the inconsistencies by minimizing the importance of the information or finding ways to justify the discrepancies. This process of reducing cognitive dissonance can lead to changes in behavior, attitude, or belief.
The theory has been applied to a wide range of domains, from health behavior change and political attitudes to consumer behavior and organizational decisions. It has also been used to explore the relationship between attitude change and persuasion.
Overall, cognitive dissonance theory is an important framework for understanding how people process and integrate new information into their existing belief systems, as well as how they reconcile conflicting beliefs or behaviors.
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