Cognitive dissonance theory indicates that individuals distort information to align with their existing beliefs, affecting self-perception and perception of others (Cooper, 2007).

In the end, for me what cognitive dissonance theory most usefully teaches us is that there are defaults at play into which we may have little insight and yet which may shape a lot about what we do ...

American psychologist Leon Festinger coined the phrase and idea of cognitive dissonance in 1957. It became one of the most influential theories in social psychology. To prove his theory, Festinger and ...

Smoking is not the only culprit for oral cancer. A new study links chronic marijuana use to increased risk. UC San Diego researchers found frequent cannabis smokers are more likely to develop the ...

Cognitive dissonance is a common mental phenomenon that affects people differently based on their background, trauma, and emotions. There are ways to work through it.

Cognitive dissonance pops up when your thinking, attitude, behavior, or previous internalized messages conflict with your behavior or new information that you have to reconcile with, Tzall says.

It is easier to contort reality than to admit they might be wrong. In Cognitive Dissonance Theory (1957), Leon Festinger proposes that human beings strive for internal psychological consistency.

When cognitive dissonance happens in healthcare, a patient might try to justify their unhealthy behaviour using rationalization or justification. This can lead to harmful consequences when it ...

Producer Rose Kerr investigates the role cognitive dissonance plays in our lives: how it can lead to some creative mental gymnastics, and when it can be harnessed for good.