US High School Psychology Practice Exam 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

Cognitive dissonance is defined as the psychological discomfort that arises when an individual holds conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. This phenomenon occurs because people's beliefs often significantly influence their behaviors, and when there’s a contradiction between them, it creates tension that the individual seeks to resolve. For instance, when someone believes in the importance of health but also smokes cigarettes, that person experiences dissonance due to the conflict between their health beliefs and their smoking behavior. This discomfort typically encourages individuals to either change their beliefs, alter their behaviors, or find a rationalization to reconcile the conflicting ideas, ultimately leading to a shift in perspective or action to restore mental harmony.

Understanding cognitive dissonance is crucial in psychology as it illustrates how human motivation operates when faced with conflicting information, influencing decision-making and attitudes.