Final answer:
The term is 'cognitive dissonance,' which describes the psychological discomfort from conflicting information, leading to an internal motivation to resolve the discrepancy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cognitive dissonance is the psychological discomfort a person feels when they encounter information that contradicts their established beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors, causing conflict with their positive self-image or internal frameworks. This state of tension creates an internal drive to resolve the inconsistency, either by changing attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, or by rationalizing the discrepancies. For instance, when a person with prosopagnosia encounters a familiar face but cannot recognize it, this mismatch between what's expected (recognizing a loved one) and what's experienced (not recognizing them) can generate cognitive dissonance. The discomfort from this dissonance can motivate the individual to seek alternative strategies or justifications for why their perception does not align with the norm or personal expectations.
This concept is crucial in understanding human behavior because it often leads to changes in belief systems or behavior as individuals strive to minimize discomfort and regain psychological equilibrium. Understanding cognitive dissonance is applicable across disciplines like marketing, policy-making, and personal decision-making, as it affects how people integrate new information and experiences with their current knowledge and beliefs.