Which concept describes the contraindication between action/behavior and attitude that people find uncomfortable and therefore try to reduce?

• A. Cognitive Dissonance
• B. Attitude
• C. Cognitive component
• D. Affective Component

Answer: (A)

Cognitive dissonance is the psychological discomfort that arises when a person’s actions are inconsistent with their beliefs or attitudes, or when they hold conflicting cognitions. Because that discomfort is aversive, people are motivated to reduce it. They might change their attitude to align with the action, modify the behavior to fit the attitude, or rationalize the discrepancy by downplaying its importance or seeking supportive information. This concept explains why people justify decisions after the fact or adjust their views to fit what they did. The other terms describe parts of an attitude or the attitude itself, not the tension produced by inconsistency.