Even as Leon is standing outside puffing away on an unfiltered cigarette,he is thinking to himself,"You know,this is really stupid.It's bad for me,and it makes me smell like an ashtray." Leon's discomfort - the divide between his attitude and his behavior - results in __________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Leon's discomfort, caused by his inconsistent attitude and behavior, is an example of cognitive dissonance. This is the discomfort that arises when a person's behavior conflicts with their beliefs, attitudes or values. In this case, Leon knows that smoking is bad for his health and dislikes smelling like an ashtray, but he continues to smoke anyway. This inconsistency creates an uncomfortable tension, or dissonance, that can be resolved either by changing his behavior (quitting smoking) or changing his attitude (convincing himself that smoking is not that bad).

Even as Leon Is Standing Outside Puffing Away on an Unfiltered