What does Cognitive Dissonance Theory propose?

Cognitive Dissonance Theory proposes that individuals experience discomfort when their attitudes and actions are inconsistent. This psychological discomfort arises because people strive for internal consistency and congruence. When there is a conflict between their beliefs or attitudes and their behaviors, it creates a state of dissonance that they are motivated to resolve. This can lead to a variety of outcomes, such as changing one's beliefs to align with their behaviors, modifying their actions to match their beliefs, or rationalizing the inconsistency to alleviate the discomfort.

Understanding this theory helps to clarify significant aspects of human behavior and decision-making processes, particularly in situations involving conflicting beliefs or actions. It illustrates the lengths to which people will go to restore harmony in their cognitive frameworks.