Final answer:
The cognitive dissonance theory suggests that attitudes change when acting in a way that contradicts one's beliefs, creating psychological discomfort. This discomfort, cognitive dissonance, can lead to alterations in behavior or beliefs to reduce the inconsistency and achieve consonance. The correct answer od choice is b. acting in a way that contradicts your beliefs creates discomfort.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
The cognitive dissonance theory suggests that attitudes are changed when acting in a way that contradicts your beliefs creates discomfort. This discomfort is known as cognitive dissonance, which is the psychological unease experienced when a person has conflicting thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially when those conflicts challenge their self-esteem or self-image. According to Leon Festinger's theory, cognitive dissonance can lead to changes in beliefs or behaviors as a way to reduce the psychological discomfort.
For instance, if an individual believes that smoking is harmful but continues to smoke, they would experience cognitive dissonance due to the discrepancy between their belief and their behavior. To alleviate this discomfort, they might choose to quit smoking (change their behavior) or convince themselves that the risks of smoking are exaggerated (change their belief).
It's important to understand that cognitive dissonance is a powerful motivator for changing either behaviors or beliefs to achieve consonance, the state of agreement and consistency within one's thoughts and actions. Factors such as confirmation bias, collectivist culture, and companionate love can also influence how individuals cope with cognitive dissonance and the extent to which they are motivated to resolve it.