Dissonance Reduction Strategies

Dissonance reduction strategies are methods people use to ease the discomfort caused when their beliefs, actions, or feelings conflict. Common strategies include justifying or rationalizing the behavior to make it seem less conflicting, changing one of the conflicting beliefs, or minimizing the importance of the conflict. For example, if someone eats unhealthy food but values health, they might tell themselves it’s a rare treat or that it’s worth it for happiness. These strategies help reduce feelings of tension and maintain self-esteem by resolving or mitigating the internal conflict.