Leon Festinger

"The mind tries to maintain consistency between its various cognitions."

"If a man is told he will dislike a new gadget, he will actually find his first experience with it more unpleasant than would otherwise be the case."

"Cognitive dissonance is when your actions don't match your beliefs."

"People tend to seek out information that confirms what they already believe."

"When there is an inconsistency, we feel tension and discomfort."

"The discomfort drives us to change either our beliefs or our behaviors."

"Social pressure influences what we believe to be true."

"We construct our reality through our cognitions and experiences."

"Dissonance between cognition and action motivates behavior change."

"The strength of cognitive dissonance depends on the importance of the cognitions involved."

"People are not always rational in their decision-making."

"Our beliefs shape our perception of reality."

"The desire for consistency is a fundamental human drive."

"We justify our behaviors through rationalization."

"Dissonance occurs when cognitions are logically inconsistent."

"The magnitude of dissonance affects how we respond to it."

"People seek cognitive consonance."

"Our actions can change our attitudes."

"Effort justification is a form of dissonance reduction."

"We are motivated to reduce internal conflict."

"Social groups influence individual cognitions."

"Changing behavior is easier than changing beliefs."

"We tend to avoid information that creates dissonance."

"Cognitive dissonance is uncomfortable but productive."

"Our minds constantly work to resolve contradictions."

"Beliefs are reinforced through repeated behavior."

"The pressure to conform creates cognitive conflicts."

"We rationalize our choices to feel better about them."

"Inconsistency between thought and action breeds anxiety."

"The human mind seeks order and consistency."