What is a key assumption of cognitive dissonance theory?

A key assumption of cognitive dissonance theory is that individuals have an inherent desire to avoid inconsistency. This theory posits that when people hold two or more contradictory beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors, they experience psychological discomfort known as cognitive dissonance. To alleviate this discomfort, they are motivated to change either their beliefs or behaviors to create consistency.

This desire to maintain a harmonious internal state drives individuals to resolve their dissonance, often leading them to adjust their attitudes or rationalize their choices. For example, if someone knows that smoking is harmful to health but continues to smoke, they may either begin to justify their behavior or decide to quit smoking in order to resolve the dissonance between their action and their belief about health.

In contrast, while comfort and discomfort play roles in human behavior, the core of cognitive dissonance theory specifically focuses on the avoidance of inconsistency as the driving force behind attitude change. Awareness of attitudes or social influences may also be relevant in various contexts, but they do not capture the fundamental assumption that underpins cognitive dissonance theory.