People experiencing cognitive dissonance may engage in what behavior to alleviate discomfort?

Cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort that arises when an individual holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes, particularly when their behavior is not aligned with these beliefs. To alleviate this discomfort, individuals often choose to change their beliefs as a coping mechanism.

When faced with a situation that creates cognitive dissonance, a person may adjust their beliefs to make them more consistent with their actions or to resolve the conflict between competing thoughts. For example, if someone who values health engages in smoking, they might justify this behavior by convincing themselves that smoking isn’t as harmful as commonly believed, effectively reducing the dissonance between their actions and their health beliefs.

Engaging in this belief change is a common and effective strategy for reducing cognitive dissonance, as it allows individuals to restore a sense of internal consistency and psychological comfort. This behavior contrasts with the other options, which may not directly address the underlying conflict resulting in discomfort.