Reading passage

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological concept that explains the discomfort or tension that arises when a person holds contradictory beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. This theory posits that individuals are motivated to reduce this dissonance by changing their beliefs or behaviors to align with each other. For example, if someone who values environmental conservation continues to use plastic water bottles despite knowing the harm they cause to the environment, they may experience cognitive dissonance.

Listening transcript

In today's lecture, we will discuss the theory of cognitive dissonance. Imagine a scenario where a person who prides themselves on healthy living indulges in excessive junk food consumption. This conflicting behavior can lead to cognitive dissonance. Another example is a smoker who is aware of the health risks but continues to smoke. Such contradictions can create psychological discomfort, driving individuals to either change their behavior or rationalize their actions to reduce dissonance.

Speaking task instruction

Explain the concept of cognitive dissonance from the reading and use the professor's examples to show how it works. Preparation time: 30 seconds, Response time: 60 seconds.

Sample student response

Cognitive dissonance is when we feel uneasy holding contradictory beliefs or behaviors. For instance, if someone cares about the environment but still uses plastic bottles, they may experience this discomfort. The professor's examples of a health enthusiast eating junk food and a smoker aware of the risks but continuing to smoke highlight how this theory plays out in real life. People either adjust their behavior or find ways to justify their actions to reduce this internal conflict.