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What is Cognitive Dissonance?

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Cognitive dissonance is a sense of stress that results from inconsistent ideas or actions. It is commonly described as a desire for internal consistency. Cognitive dissonance is considered a common type of motivation that can be used to describe a wide range of behaviors.

Cognitive Dissonance as a Cognitive Bias

Cognitive dissonance is often used to explain why people may choose to ignore evidence that runs contrary to their beliefs or opinions. This behavior is the root of a number of cognitive biases such as cherry picking or the backfire effect.
Another thought pattern related to cognitive dissonance is a tendency to assume that the unobtainable has little value, a bias known as sour grapes.
Overview: Cognitive Dissonance
Type
Definition
A sense of stress that results from internal inconsistencies.
Examples
Considering two seeming contradictory ideas at the same time.
Actions that are inconsistent with beliefs.
Encountering evidence that is contrary to beliefs.
Wanting what you can't have.
Related Concepts

Cognitive Biases

This is the complete list of articles we have written about cognitive biases.
Ambiguity Effect
Anchoring
Backfire Effect
Base Rate
Biased
Biases
Circular Reasoning
Cognitive Bias
Cognitive Dissonance
Complexity Bias
Crab Mentality
Creeping Normality
Curse Of Knowledge
Decoy Effect
Ethnocentrism
Exposure Effect
False Analogy
False Hope
Fear Of Youth
Gambler's Fallacy
Golden Hammer
Halo Effect
Hindsight Bias
Negativity Bias
Optimism Bias
Peak-End Rule
Positive Bias
Sour Grapes
Survivorship Bias
Us vs Them
Victim Mentality
Wishful Thinking
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Cognitive Biases

A list of common cognitive biases explained.

Curse Of Knowledge

Why experts have trouble communicating.

Optimism Bias

An overview of optimism bias, including its surprising benefits.

Decoy Effect

A cognitive bias that is well known in marketing circles.

Biases vs Heuristics

The difference between biases and heuristics.

Information Cascade

A definition of information cascade with examples.

Functional Fixedness

A definition of functional fixedness with examples.

Boil The Frog

A definition of boil the frog, with examples.

Anecdotal Evidence

The definition of anecdotal evidence with examples.

Scientism

The definition of scientism with examples.

Thought Processes

A list of thinking approaches and types.

Logic

A few logic terms explained.

Abstract Ideas

A few dangers of being too abstract.

Objective vs Subjective

The difference between objective and subjective.

Intellectual Diversity

A definition of intellectual diversity with examples.

Creative Value

The definition of creative value with examples.

Benefit Of Doubt

The definition of benefit of doubt with examples.

Pessimism

The definition of pessimism with examples.
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