When people are in an unpleasant state of psychological tension resulting from two inconsistent thoughts or perceptions, they are said to be experiencing:

Question

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Cognitive dissonance is the psychological tension that arises when a person holds two contradictory beliefs or values or when their beliefs do not align with their actions. This discomfort can lead to a change in one's beliefs or actions to decrease the discomfort. The other options, diffusion of responsibility, normative social influence, and stereotype threat, refer to different psychological phenomena that do not involve contradictory thoughts or perceptions.

When People Are in an Unpleasant State of Psychological Tension