Final answer:
The statement is false. Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort from conflicting behaviors and beliefs, and is not about exposing people to counterarguments to bolster resistance.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement provided by the student is false. Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort that arises from a conflict in a person's behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs that runs counter to one's positive self-perception. According to Leon Festinger's theory, this dissonance occurs when there is an inconsistency between what we do and what we believe, which creates mental discomfort.
For instance, if an individual believes that smoking is detrimental to health but continues to smoke nonetheless, this discrepancy between belief and action triggers cognitive dissonance. Individuals are motivated to reduce this discomfort by either adjusting their behaviors or beliefs to maintain cognitive consistency. The technique mentioned in the student's question, involving exposing individuals to small doses of counterarguments, is actually a method known as inoculation theory and is distinct from cognitive dissonance.