What is cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort experienced when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes. This state of mental conflict leads individuals to feel uneasy or anxious, prompting them to seek consistency in their beliefs or behaviors.

For instance, when someone values health but regularly smokes cigarettes, they may experience cognitive dissonance due to the conflict between their behavior and their belief in the importance of health. To alleviate this discomfort, individuals might choose to change their attitudes, either by justifying their behavior ("I don’t smoke that much, so it’s not that bad") or by changing their behavior (quitting smoking).

The other options focus on different psychological processes that do not directly relate to cognitive dissonance. Feelings of joy from achieving a goal describe emotional states, while a method of psychological assessment pertains to evaluating mental health or psychological constructs. Lastly, a state of mental clarity and focus pertains to cognitive functioning rather than the conflict of beliefs that characterizes cognitive dissonance.