We learned aboutcognitive dissonance(the discomfort that people feel when two cognitions (beliefs, attitudes) conflict, or when they behave in ways that are inconsistent with their conception of themselves). When we experience cognitive dissonance, we attempt to attenuate it in one of three ways. One,by changing our behavior to bring it in line with the dissonant cognition (e.g., I stopped smoking because it's unhealthy). Two, by attempting to justify our behavior through changing one of the dissonant cognitions (e.g., smoking isn't actually that unhealthy).Three,by attempting to justify our behavior by adding new cognitions (e.g., I rather die young and happy than old and unhappy).

We all experience cognitive dissonance. Therefore, this assignment is to...

1. Describe a time in which you've experienced cognitive dissonance. Specifically, describe a time in which either your behavior or attitude contradicted your beliefs. Please explicitly state what the belief and behavior/attitude were.(4 points)
2. Describe how you think you resolved this dissonance. Specifically, describe which of the three dissonance attenuating strategies you used to reduce your mental discomfort.(4 points)