What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
TeachThought Staff
Definition
Cognitive dissonance is a theory in psychology describing the tension that arises when a person holds inconsistent beliefs, or when behavior conflicts with stated values. That discomfort often motivates the person to reduce the inconsistency by changing behavior, revising beliefs, or adding a justification.
Key Characteristics of Cognitive Dissonance
- It involves felt psychological discomfort, not just a contradiction on paper.
- It usually appears when an action, belief, value, or..