word
cognitive dissonance
KOG-nih-tiv DIS-uh-nents
ˈkɒɡnɪtɪv ˈdɪsənənsListen
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Syllable breakdown
cognitivedissonance
Dictionary meaning
The mental discomfort experienced from holding two or more contradictory beliefs at the same time.
History and origin
Coined by Leon Festinger in 1957.
Examples
- The cognitive dissonance of claiming to care about the environment while flying constantly was hard to ignore.
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