Leon Festinger's Book "A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance"

Leon Festinger's "A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance" explains how people experience discomfort when their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors conflict. To reduce this discomfort, they often change their thinking or behavior to create harmony. For example, if someone smokes but knows it's unhealthy, they might justify it by convincing themselves smoking isn't so bad. The theory highlights that humans are motivated to maintain internal consistency, and this drive influences decision-making and attitude changes. Essentially, we strive for mental agreement, and resolving dissonance helps us feel more comfortable and aligned with ourselves.