托福口语 Task 3

In psychology, the concept of 'cognitive dissonance' refers to the mental discomfort experienced when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes. This discomfort often leads individuals to alter their beliefs or rationalize their actions to reduce the inconsistency. The theory, proposed by Leon Festinger, suggests that people are motivated to maintain internal consistency. When dissonance occurs, they may change their behavior, change their beliefs, or add new cognitions to justify the situation. This process helps restore psychological balance and reduces anxiety.

Professor: Now, let me give you a real-life example to illustrate cognitive dissonance. Imagine a student named Mark who values health and fitness. One day, he decides to smoke a cigarette with friends, even though he knows smoking is harmful. After smoking, Mark feels uneasy because his action contradicts his belief about health. To reduce this discomfort, he tells himself, 'It's just one cigarette; it won't hurt me, and I'll exercise more tomorrow.' He also starts to think, 'Many athletes smoke occasionally and still stay fit.' By rationalizing his behavior and adding new justifications, Mark convinces himself that his action is not so bad. Over time, he might even downplay the risks of smoking to further ease his guilt. This process of changing his attitude and adding excuses is exactly how cognitive dissonance works in everyday life.