What Is Cognitive Dissonance?
Cognitive dissonance is the negative emotional state when attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors conflict, or when new information challenges existing beliefs. It can also arise when actions threaten one’s self-concept.
Metaphor
Cognitive dissonance is a mental itch you can’t scratch, the tension between what you believe and what you do. That discomfort pushes your mind to rewrite the story so things feel consistent again.
This itch is why people double down on bad choices instead of admitting they might be wrong.
As part of cognitive psychology, cognitive dissonance reveals how the mind strives for internal consistency, even when that means distorting reality to reduce discomfort.
Works Consulted
In addition to any sources cited above, the following works informed my thinking:(1)