EPISODE · Jul 21, 2023 · 5 MIN
189 Cognitive Dissonance
from Truth Untangled · host Bob Anders, Ph.D.
Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. This creates a feeling of mental discomfort, which leads to an alteration in one of the beliefs, values, or attitudes to reduce the discomfort and restore balance. For example, a person who smokes (behavior) and knows that smoking causes cancer (cognition) experiences cognitive dissonance. To reduce this dissonance, the person must either quit smoking or justify smoking by saying that it keeps them thin, and being overweight is a health risk too.
What this episode covers
Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when a person holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. This creates a feeling of mental discomfort, which leads to an alteration in one of the beliefs, values, or attitudes to reduce the discomfort and restore balance. For example, a person who smokes (behavior) and knows that smoking causes cancer (cognition) experiences cognitive dissonance. To reduce this dissonance, the person must either quit smoking or justify smoking by saying that it keeps them thin, and being overweight is a health risk too.
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189 Cognitive Dissonance
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