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Psychology

Cognitive Dissonance: The Mental Discomfort of Holding Conflicting Beliefs

Quick fact

The term was first proposed by Leon Festinger in 1957, and his classic study found that people paid $1 to lie about a boring task enjoyed it more than those paid $20—because they had to internally justify the lie.

Why this is interesting

Ever smoked a cigarette while knowing it harms your health? That uncomfortable feeling—that's cognitive dissonance, and it shapes how we think and act.