The Theory of Cognitive Dissonance

The Theory of Cognitive Dissonance describes the mental discomfort we feel when our beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors conflict with each other. For example, if someone values health but smokes, they might experience dissonance. To reduce this discomfort, they might change their behavior (quit smoking), justify it (claim it's not harmful), or adjust their beliefs (believe smoking isn’t that bad). This process helps us maintain internal consistency and psychological comfort, often unconsciously, influencing how we think, feel, and act.