What is Cognitive Dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that explains the discomfort we feel when we hold contradictory thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes.

When this happens, we’re motivated to resolve the inconsistency to reduce the discomfort.

To ease this discomfort, we tend to either change our beliefs or find ways to justify our actions, all to make our inner world feel more consistent and comfortable.

Lets take an common example within a martial art club. A coach displaying controlling behaviour.

In order to justify staying at the club and continue training there you might tell yourself ““It’s not that bad” ““He’s just got this old school mentality” “He has never directly said anything to me.” “Every club has their rules..”

You’re attempting to rationalise behaviour that contradicts your values, seeking to justify your compliance with something your inner self doesn’t truly endorse.

Additionally, there can be strong peer pressure to conform and stay, especially if your teammates are also enduring the toxic environment. You might fear social rejection or judgment for choosing to leave, which can create a sense of conflict between your own well-being and the desire to fit in.

Being true to yourself and your values involves prioritizing your principles and well-being over conforming to a negative environment. It means having the courage to stand up against toxic behavior, even if it means leaving a familiar group or facing peer pressure. By doing so, you avoid contributing to a negative atmosphere and create an opportunity for personal growth and positive change, aligning your actions with your core values.