Meaning : The mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes simultaneously.
Cognitive dissonance occurs when an individual is faced with conflicting thoughts or beliefs that challenge their existing understanding. This psychological tension motivates the person to either change one of the beliefs or rationalize the conflict to reduce the discomfort. For example, if someone values health but continues to smoke, the inconsistency between their actions and beliefs may lead to cognitive dissonance. It is a powerful motivator for behavior and belief change.
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Meritocracy, though widely accepted, is flawed as success often depends on luck and external factors, not just skill and effort. Believing in meritocracy fosters selfishness, discrimination, and indifference to inequality. Despite its moral appeal, it justifies social hierarchies and wrongly attributes personal success to individual virtue.