The state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change.
He felt cognitive dissonance after lying to his friend.
The politician's actions created cognitive dissonance among his supporters due to the contradiction with his promises.
The mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.
She experienced cognitive dissonance when she smoked.
The commercial tried to cause cognitive dissonance by associating happiness with unhealthy food choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
The word "cognitive dissonance" in English means: The state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioral decisions and attitude change., The mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values..
The phonetic transcription of "cognitive dissonance" is /ˌkɒɡ.nɪ.tɪv ˈdɪs.ə.nəns/ in British English and /ˌkɑːɡ.nɪ.tɪv ˈdɪs.ə.nəns/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.
Example usage of "cognitive dissonance": "He felt cognitive dissonance after lying to his friend.". More examples on the page.