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Definition of cognitive dissonance noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

cognitive dissonance

noun
 
/ˌkɒɡnətɪv ˈdɪsənəns/
 
/ˌkɑːɡnətɪv ˈdɪsənəns/
[uncountable] (psychology)
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  1. the state of having thoughts that are not consistent, especially relating to beliefs, behaviour and attitudes
    • The cognitive dissonance in these arguments caused him to re-evaluate his politics.
    • Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort that we feel when our deeply held beliefs do not match what is evident in reality.
trait
noun
 
 
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