Question

judith just adored her rabbi. he was kind, well educated, promoted social justice, a pillar of the community and loved by all. one morning judith read in the paper that her rabbi was arrested and charged with being the serial killer the police had been looking for over the past three years. he was charged with the murder of 8 women in the community. judith was stunned and had to (understandably) immediately reassess her beliefs and attitude toward her rabbi. this is a classic example of ---

Answer 1

Judith's need to reassess her beliefs in light of new, conflicting information about her rabbi is an example of cognitive dissonance, a mental state where a person experiences discomfort due to holding contradictory beliefs or attitudes.

Step-by-step explanation:

Judith's experience of having to reassess her beliefs and attitude toward her rabbi, who she admired but was charged with horrifying crimes, is a classic example of cognitive dissonance. This psychological concept refers to the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. People naturally strive for internal consistency, and when confronted with evidence that fundamentally challenges their existing beliefs or attitudes, they are forced to reconcile the contradiction in some way - often by changing the belief, denying the evidence, or compartmentalizing the conflicting information.