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.