After Judy made a choice between two fairly equal alternatives, she emphasized the negative features of the choice she rejected, which is called a "sour grapes" rationalization, and she focused on the positive features of the choice she committed to, a "sweet lemons" rationalization. This example illustrates:

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Judy's behavior is an example of cognitive dissonance, which occurs when a person experiences psychological discomfort when there is a discrepancy between their beliefs and behaviors. In this case, choosing between two equal alternatives created cognitive dissonance for Judy, which she resolved by emphasizing the positive aspects of her choice and downplaying the positive aspects of the other choice.

After Judy Made a Choice Between Two Fairly Equal Alternatives