Final answer:
Cognitive dissonance motivates listeners by causing psychological, physical, and mental discomfort when they experience conflicts between their beliefs and behaviors, compelling them to seek harmony either by changing their actions or rationalizing their behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cognitive dissonance is a psychological discomfort that arises when a person's behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs are in conflict, thereby challenging their positive self-perception. This discomfort can motivate listeners because when individuals encounter conflicting cognitions, especially those that threaten their self-image, they are driven to reduce the dissonance. They can do so by changing their behavior or beliefs to achieve harmony and reduce the psychological, physical, and mental discomfort.
For instance, if someone believes that environmental conservation is essential but frequently uses plastic products, they may experience cognitive dissonance. To resolve this, they could either start using more environmentally friendly products (change in behavior) or convince themselves that their use of plastic products is not that harmful (change in belief).
Therefore, cognitive dissonance can motivate change by urging individuals to align their actions with their beliefs or to rationalize their behaviors to maintain a consistent self-image. This is crucial for understanding how personal conflicts can be a driving force for personal growth and change.