Final answer:
Cognitive dissonance occurs when a new experience challenges existing beliefs or attitudes, causing a state of mental discomfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a new experience does not fit within the existing schema, it can cause a state of mental disquietude known as cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance occurs when there is a conflict between existing beliefs or attitudes and new information or experiences. This can lead to feelings of discomfort, as the individual must either adjust their existing schema to accommodate the new experience or reject the new information altogether.
For example, if someone has always believed that all birds can fly, but then encounters a flightless bird, they may experience cognitive dissonance. Their existing schema does not allow for a bird that cannot fly, so they must either update their beliefs to include this new information or dismiss the flightless bird as an anomaly.