What does cognitive dissonance theory explain?

Cognitive dissonance theory explains the discomfort or psychological tension that arises when a person holds conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. This theory, developed by Leon Festinger in the 1950s, posits that when an individual experiences inconsistency between their beliefs or between their beliefs and actions, they are motivated to reduce this discomfort. They may do so by changing one of the conflicting beliefs, acquiring new beliefs to justify the existing ones, or minimizing the importance of the conflict.

This understanding of psychological discomfort is crucial in explaining various aspects of human behavior and decision-making. For instance, if someone believes that smoking is harmful to health yet continues to smoke, they may experience cognitive dissonance. To alleviate this discomfort, they might downplay the risks associated with smoking or convince themselves that they will quit soon.

The other options focus on different aspects of social psychology. The formation of social beliefs and the benefits of social conformity refer to how individuals develop and align their beliefs within a social context, while the ease of agreeing within a group pertains to the dynamics of group influence and shared attitudes. These elements do not address the core concept of cognitive dissonance, which specifically involves the internal conflict and subsequent efforts to alleviate that conflict.