Psychology / Unit 11 Psych 1201 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Cognitive Dissonance
Captions available
The idea
Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort produced by holding inconsistent beliefs, or by acting against a held belief.
In practice
Someone who considers themselves honest tells a lie and feels the tension immediately.
Where people slip
Dissonance requires the person to feel responsible for the inconsistency. Coerced action produces little of it.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
Builds on
Something wrong in this lesson? Flag it · Sources for Psychology