Title: What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
Headings: What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
How Do You Know?
Causes
Forced Compliance
New Information
Decisions
Influences
Impact
Dealing With Dissonance
Potential Pitfalls
History of Cognitive Dissonance
A Word From Verywell

Content: Cognitive dissonance can often have a powerful influence on our behaviors and actions. It doesn't just influence how you feel—it also motivates you to take action to reduce feelings of discomfort. Impact
Cognitive dissonance can make people feel uneasy and uncomfortable, particularly if the disparity between their beliefs and behaviors involves something that is central to their sense of self. For example, behaving in ways that are not aligned with your personal values may result in intense feelings of discomfort. Your behavior contradicts not just the beliefs you have about the world, but also the beliefs that you have about yourself. This discomfort can manifest itself in a variety of ways. People may feel: Anxiety
Embarrassment
Regret
Sadness
Shame
Stress
Cognitive dissonance can even influence how people feel about and view themselves, leading to negative feelings of self-esteem and self-worth. Because people want to avoid this discomfort, cognitive dissonance can have a wide range of effects. Dissonance can play a role in how people act, think, and make decisions.