Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance
The mental conflict that occurs when beliefs or assumptions are contradicted by new information.
Source: Brittanica
Kendra Cherry, writing for verywellmind.com, describes cognitive dissonance as the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes.
Psychologist Leon Festinger pioneered the theory of cognitive dissonance in 1957. He observed that we try to maintain consistency between our beliefs, and between our beliefs and actions or behaviours. We can feel anxious if our actions do not match our beliefs, if for example we are required to do something at work which is inconsistent with our core values or beliefs.
But if we have developed a system of beliefs and are confronted by new information which challenges what we believe, the discomfort can lead us to dismiss the new data rather than rework our thinking and change what we believe.
Two articles which explain cognitive dissonance more thoroughly are:-