Why conflicting beliefs make you uncomfortable
Cognitive dissonance creates mental discomfort when beliefs clash, compelling us to rationalize or change to restore inner harmony and even spark creativity.
Ever feel uneasy when your actions don't match your beliefs? That's cognitive dissonance, a psychological tension first described by Leon Festinger in 1957. It pushes us to reduce this discomfort by changing our beliefs or rationalizing our behavior. For example, a smoker might downplay health risks to ease their unease.
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