Have you ever been out and about, perhaps tackling the Christmas shopping list, and felt a bit thirsty? You buy a drink—say, one that comes in a plastic bottle—and quench your thirst, only to find ...

People who dislike having their mistakes pointed out are often reacting to more than the correction itself. Their response ...

The cognitive dissonance theory was one of the most influential theories in social psychology first proposed by Leon Festinger in his book A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance in 1957. Festinger’s theory ...

"I prefer to rely on my memory. I have lived with that memory a long time, I am used to it, and if I have rearranged or distorted anything, surely that was done for my own benefit." (Leon Festinger, ...

You've been presented with two viable options for a new career. The first option is what you've always wanted—the role sounds like a perfect fit. But the second option comes with higher pay and better ...

You could hang on to the empty bottle, or throw it in with general rubbish. If you are particularly passionate about recycling, the latter option may feel quite distressing. However, you might peek ...

The Penguine Dictionary of Psychology defines cognitive dissonance (CD) as "an emotional state set up when two simultaneously held attitudes or cognitions are inconsistent or when there is a conflict ...

A recent New Yorker article, “Is Cognitive Dissonance Actually a Thing?”, strongly implies that the answer to that question is “No.” The article arrived at this answer by considering a 1956 ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. SewCream/Shutterstock Have you ever been out and about, perhaps tackling the Christmas shopping list, and felt a bit thirsty? You ...