托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'cognitive dissonance' refers to the mental discomfort experienced when a person holds two contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes, or when their behavior conflicts with their stated beliefs. To reduce this discomfort, individuals often modify their beliefs or rationalize their actions rather than change their behavior. This theory, proposed by Leon Festinger, suggests that humans strive for internal consistency and will go to great lengths to achieve it, often unconsciously.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example. A student, Sarah, strongly believed that smoking was harmful and that she would never smoke. However, during a stressful exam week, she tried a cigarette and soon began smoking daily. Initially, she felt uneasy and guilty—that's cognitive dissonance. To ease this discomfort, instead of quitting, she started telling herself that smoking helped her concentrate and that the health risks were exaggerated. She even began reading articles that downplayed smoking's dangers. Over time, she convinced herself that it was a reasonable choice for managing stress. Notice how she didn't change her behavior; she changed her beliefs to match her actions.