Example

Example of Cognitive Dissonance: Smoking

A classic example of cognitive dissonance involves a person who smokes. They hold the cognition 'I am a smoker' while also being aware of the conflicting cognition 'Smoking is bad for your health,' creating psychological tension. To resolve this dissonance, the individual can either change their behavior by quitting smoking, or they can alter their cognitions to justify the behavior. This justification can take several forms, such as denying the evidence by deeming health research inconclusive, rationalizing the risk by believing filtered cigarettes are safer, or adding a new belief that smoking provides a health benefit, like appetite suppression to avoid being overweight.

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Updated 2026-05-02

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