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Cognitive Dissonance (Psychology)
A psychological state of tension that results when there is conflict between our beliefs and our behaviors. According to Leon Festinger (1957), we all hold numerous cognitions and beliefs about others, the world, and ourselves, and these beliefs sometimes collide. One way to cope with this state of tension is to change the attitude so that it is consistent with the behavior. For example, if you wait in line several hours to see a movie that ends up being terrible, you may unconsciously reduce cognitive dissonance by changing your mind about the quality of the movie. For more information, see Festinger (1957).