Final answer:
The discomfort felt when there's a conflict between our actions and beliefs is called cognitive dissonance, a psychological state where inconsistent thoughts cause discomfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discomfort we feel when two thoughts are inconsistent is called cognitive dissonance. This term refers to the psychological discomfort that arises when there is a conflict between a person's behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs that runs counter to their positive self-perception. Psychologist Leon Festinger introduced the concept of cognitive dissonance in 1957, which suggests that when our actions don't align with our beliefs or attitudes, we experience psychological discomfort.
For example, believing that smoking is bad for your health while continuing to smoke generates a state of cognitive dissonance, where the behavior conflicts with the belief. To resolve the dissonance, an individual may quit smoking, changing their behavior, or they may downplay the dangers of smoking, thereby altering their beliefs.