What is cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort that arises when an individual experiences conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values. This psychological phenomenon occurs when a person encounters new information that contradicts their existing beliefs, leading to a state of tension and unease. For example, if someone who values health engages in unhealthy eating habits, they may feel dissonance between their values and actions. This discomfort often motivates individuals to either change their attitudes or behaviors to achieve harmony, or to justify their beliefs in light of the dissonant information.

The other choices do not align with the concept of cognitive dissonance. The notion of multitasking relates to one's ability to manage several tasks simultaneously, while effective communication is more about conveying messages clearly within a team. Organization-wide learning pertains to the processes of acquiring and integrating new knowledge across an organization, which is distinct from the individual psychological experience described by cognitive dissonance.