Cognitive dissonance occurs when:

Cognitive dissonance occurs when:

• A. Evidence disputes longheld principles
• B. Paradigms are based upon nontestable theories
• C. Theories are reduced
• D. Theories cannot be reduced

Answer: (A)

Cognitive dissonance shows up as psychological discomfort when two or more cognitions—beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors—are in conflict, or when new information clashes with what you already believe. When evidence disputes long-held principles, that clash between what you believed and what the new data says creates that uncomfortable tension. To ease it, people may shift their beliefs, downplay the new evidence, or change their behavior to restore consistency. The other statements describe broader ideas about theory and testing rather than the experience of holding conflicting cognitions, so they don’t capture the essence of cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance shows up as psychological discomfort when two or more cognitions—beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors—are in conflict, or when new information clashes with what you already believe. When evidence disputes long-held principles, that clash between what you believed and what the new data says creates that uncomfortable tension. To ease it, people may shift their beliefs, downplay the new evidence, or change their behavior to restore consistency. The other statements describe broader ideas about theory and testing rather than the experience of holding conflicting cognitions, so they don’t capture the essence of cognitive dissonance.