Final answer:
Incongruence between self and experience can result in cognitive dissonance, leading to psychological discomfort and the need for behavior change or belief adjustment. This phenomenon is important for understanding how individuals maintain consistency between their self-image and experiences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Incongruence between self and experience results in a state called incongruence, which can lead to maladjustment. This psychological discomfort, known as cognitive dissonance, arises from a conflict in a person's behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs that runs counter to their positive self-perception. When people experience cognitive dissonance, they are motivated to reduce it through behavior change or belief adjustment.
For example, if someone believes smoking is bad for their health but continues to smoke, the conflict between their belief and behavior causes cognitive dissonance. They may choose to either change their behavior by quitting smoking or change their belief by discounting evidence that smoking is harmful.
Studies have shown that incongruence and cognitive dissonance can cause both psychological discomfort and physiological arousal. These experiences are important for understanding how individuals seek to maintain consistency between their self-image and their experiences.