The United States has been involved in a series of wars, from Korea through Iraq, in which a large majority of the people concluded that the war had been a mistake, while the leaders who sent the country to war became ever more convinced of its necessity. Regardless of the actual merits of the war, what psychological concept could explain, in part, the tenacity of the leaders?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Postdecisional dissonance refers to the discomfort one feels after making a difficult decision, often leading to increased justification of the decision to reduce discomfort. This can explain why leaders become more convinced of the war's necessity after committing to it.

The United States Has Been Involved in a Series of Wars