Theory of Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological theory suggesting that when a person holds two conflicting beliefs or attitudes, they experience discomfort. This tension motivates them to resolve the inconsistency, often by changing their beliefs, justifying their behaviors, or downplaying the importance of the conflicting information. For example, if someone values health but smokes, they may either quit smoking, justify that it's not that harmful, or minimize the value of health to feel better about their choice. Essentially, it's about our desire for internal harmony and consistency in our thoughts and actions.