How is cognitive dissonance best defined?

Cognitive dissonance is best defined as a psychological discomfort caused by conflicting beliefs or attitudes. This concept, introduced by Leon Festinger, describes the mental tension experienced when an individual holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes, particularly when these conflicts arise in relation to their actions. For example, a person who values health but smokes cigarettes may feel discomfort due to the clash between their belief in living a healthy lifestyle and their behavior of smoking.

When experiencing cognitive dissonance, individuals are motivated to reduce their discomfort by either changing their beliefs, justifying their behaviors, or altering their attitudes to restore internal harmony. This mechanism is important in understanding how behaviors can change over time in response to self-perception and the desire for consistency in one's beliefs.