托福口语 Task 3

The concept of 'cognitive dissonance' refers to the mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time. This discomfort often leads individuals to alter their beliefs or behaviors to reduce the inconsistency and restore psychological balance. Cognitive dissonance typically occurs when actions conflict with personal ethics or self-perception, prompting rationalization or justification to alleviate the tension.

Professor: Let me give you a classic example from a study. Participants were asked to perform a very boring task—turning pegs on a board for an hour. Afterward, they were asked to tell the next participant that the task was interesting and fun. Some were paid $1 for this lie, others $20. Later, when asked privately about their true feelings, those paid only $1 said they actually enjoyed the task, while those paid $20 admitted it was boring. Why? The $20 group had ample external justification for lying, so they felt no dissonance. But the $1 group had no strong reason, so they experienced cognitive dissonance. To reduce their discomfort, they convinced themselves the task was genuinely enjoyable—changing their internal belief to match their behavior.