Don knows that drinking too much liquor is a costly habit that is bad for his health, but he continues to drink large amounts of liquor. He also thinks he is a smart person that makes good choices. Don feels some psychological discomfort from this contradiction, which is also called
Aggressive discord
Cognitive dissonance
Perceptive deception
Peripheral dissension
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: Cognitive dissonance
Explanation:
The term cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort or psychological stress a person experiences when they hold two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes—especially when their behavior conflicts with their self-image or beliefs. In Don’s case, he sees himself as a smart person who makes good decisions, yet he continues a behavior (heavy drinking) that he knows is harmful and unwise. This contradiction between his actions and his beliefs leads to internal discomfort, which is the essence of cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance was first introduced by psychologist Leon Festinger in the 1950s. According to his theory, individuals are motivated to reduce the discomfort caused by dissonance, often by altering their beliefs, justifying their behaviors, or changing their actions. For example, Don might reduce his dissonance by:
- Changing his behavior (e.g., drinking less or stopping alcohol use),
- Changing his beliefs (e.g., convincing himself that alcohol isn’t that harmful), or
- Adding new beliefs (e.g., telling himself that drinking helps him relax and manage stress, which justifies the behavior).
The other options are incorrect:
- Aggressive discord is not a psychological concept recognized in this context.
- Perceptive deception suggests intentional misperception or lying, which is unrelated to the internal conflict between beliefs and behavior.
- Peripheral dissension sounds like disagreement on the sidelines or unrelated issues, not the core internal conflict Don is experiencing.
In summary, Don’s situation is a textbook case of cognitive dissonance, where his self-perception as a rational decision-maker clashes with his ongoing self-destructive behavior. Recognizing cognitive dissonance is key in psychology because it often drives people to make significant changes in their thoughts or behaviors to resolve inner conflict.