cognitive dissonance

USAGE SUMMARY

"cognitive dissonance" is a correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
It is used to describe the feeling of discomfort that comes from holding two contradictory beliefs at the same time. For example: Mary felt cognitive dissonance when she realized that she enjoyed the novel, though it was considered politically incorrect by her friends.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Talk about cognitive dissonance.

The New York Times - Arts

There's a cognitive dissonance.

The New York Times

Cognitive dissonance or simply coincidence?

The New York Times

The cognitive dissonance was smothering.

The New York Times - Arts

The cognitive dissonance was dizzying.

The New York Times

Here is the cognitive dissonance.

The New York Times

The result was cognitive dissonance.

The Guardian - Music

How's that for cognitive dissonance?

The Guardian - Opinion

Festinger L (1962) Cognitive dissonance.

Nature

Current has less cognitive dissonance.

The New York Times - Arts

More likely it's cognitive dissonance.

The Washington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cognitive dissonance" to accurately describe situations where individuals experience discomfort due to conflicting beliefs, values, or behaviors. For example, "He experienced cognitive dissonance when he continued to smoke despite knowing the health risks."

Common error

Avoid using "cognitive dissonance" to describe simple disagreements or differences of opinion. It specifically refers to the discomfort arising from conflicting cognitions within an individual, not between individuals.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cognitive dissonance" functions as a noun phrase, typically serving as the subject or object of a sentence. Ludwig AI confirms it to be correct. It names a psychological phenomenon describing the discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

15%

Encyclopedias

2%

Less common in

Science

34%

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "cognitive dissonance" accurately describes the psychological discomfort that arises from holding conflicting beliefs, values, or behaviors. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and frequently used in various contexts. The examples from Ludwig show that the phrase appears most commonly in News & Media, Academia and Encyclopedias, and less so in other categories. Using "cognitive dissonance" correctly involves understanding that it refers to an internal conflict within an individual, not a simple disagreement between people. Related terms include "psychological conflict" or "internal contradiction", but these don't necessarily imply the discomfort aspect. When writing, ensure to reserve the term for situations that accurately represent this nuanced psychological phenomenon.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

conflicting cognitions

Directly refers to the presence of incompatible thoughts or beliefs.

cognitive conflict

A broader term referring to any kind of clash between cognitive elements, not necessarily leading to dissonance.

internal contradiction

Highlights the presence of opposing ideas or elements within a person's mind.

attitudinal inconsistency

Points to a lack of alignment between different attitudes held by an individual.

belief-behavior inconsistency

Highlights the discrepancy between what someone believes and how they act.

value conflict

Indicates a clash between deeply held values that creates internal tension.

psychological conflict

Focuses on the mental struggle without necessarily implying discomfort or a need for resolution.

psychological tension

Describes the feeling of strain resulting from incompatible psychological elements.

mental discomfort

Emphasizes the unease experienced due to conflicting thoughts, without specifying the cause.

mental stress

Describes the state of emotional or mental strain caused by conflicting thoughts or situations.

FAQs

How to use "cognitive dissonance" in a sentence?

You can use "cognitive dissonance" to describe the mental discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs or values, for example: "The politician's contradictory statements created "cognitive dissonance" among voters".

What can I say instead of "cognitive dissonance"?

Alternatives include "psychological conflict", "internal contradiction", or "mental discomfort", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "cognitive dissonance" or "cognitive resonance"?

"Cognitive dissonance" is the established term for the psychological discomfort caused by conflicting beliefs. "Cognitive resonance" isn't a commonly recognized term in psychology.

What's the difference between "cognitive dissonance" and hypocrisy?

"Cognitive dissonance" is the internal discomfort experienced when holding conflicting beliefs, while hypocrisy is the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform. Hypocrisy can lead to "cognitive dissonance" in the individual engaging in it.