Final answer:
Blind consistency attracts with simplicity, predictability, and social harmony, yet can lead to irrational behavior when it becomes too rigid. Cognitive dissonance demands mental alignment, catalyzing shifts in belief systems when faced with contradictions. Option b
Step-by-step explanation:
The attractions of blind consistency can be linked to its provision of simplicity, predictability, and social harmony. People often favor consistency because it reduces complexity in decision-making, ensures predictability in behavior and outcomes, and contributes to a sense of order within social groups.
However, being too rigidly consistent can lead to the dismissal of new information, resistance to change, and in some cases detrimental outcomes when a change of behavior would be beneficial.
Cognitive dissonance causes discomfort because it disrupts our need for consistency, resulting in feelings of psychological stress when we encounter conflicting beliefs, behaviors, or attitudes.
To relieve this discomfort, people often strive to maintain consistency even at the cost of ignoring logical contradictions within their belief systems or their actions. Over time, as inconsistencies accumulate, belief systems may undergo scrutiny and modification to align with newly perceived realities and enhance internal coherence.
Understanding the role of consistency in human behavior is crucial in fields like psychology and economics. While traditional economics assumes individuals always act rationally and in their own best interest, actual human behavior often deviates from this model due to factors like the desire for consistency, which may lead to seemingly irrational behavior. Option b