What is cognitive dissonance? A Millennials ambivalence to Seniors in the United States. B An imbalance among knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes. C This is at the very heart of the Great Divide. D None of the above.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is B. An imbalance among knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes.
Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort that arises when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, attitudes, or values. This discomfort motivates individuals to resolve the inconsistency by changing their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors to restore a sense of balance or harmony. For example, if someone values health but smokes cigarettes, they experience cognitive dissonance because their behavior (smoking) conflicts with their belief (valuing health). To reduce the discomfort, they might quit smoking or justify it by saying things like, “It helps me relax,” despite knowing the health risks.
Cognitive dissonance theory, introduced by psychologist Leon Festinger in 1957, suggests that humans have an inherent drive to avoid inconsistency. The theory has been applied in many areas, including decision-making, attitude change, and social behavior. When faced with dissonance, individuals often use strategies like rationalization or denial to justify their actions or beliefs, rather than changing their behavior to align with their attitudes.
In the context of Millennials’ ambivalence to Seniors, while cognitive dissonance may play a role, this is not its direct definition. Cognitive dissonance is more concerned with the internal struggle between conflicting cognitions, rather than generational conflicts. Similarly, “The Great Divide” in society could involve many factors, but cognitive dissonance is specifically about resolving internal contradictions.
Understanding cognitive dissonance is valuable because it explains much of the behavior we see in society, such as people holding on to outdated beliefs, making decisions they regret, or justifying actions that go against their values. It reveals a lot about human psychology and why people often resist change, even when faced with overwhelming evidence or better alternatives.