PINM: Dissonance

Cognitive Dissonance Theory is founded upon the presumption that people seek psychological consistency between their expectations of life and the reality of life. To function by that expectation of existential consistency, people practice the process of dissonance reduction in order to continually align their cognitions with their actions for functioning in the real world. The creation and establishment of psychological consistency allows the afflicted person to lessen his or her mental discomfort and the consequent psychological distress.