Reduce Discomfort

Definition

Reduce discomfort refers to the motivation to alleviate or minimize feelings of unease, tension, or cognitive dissonance that arise from a mismatch between our beliefs and behaviors.

Related terms

Cognitive Dissonance:

The feeling of psychological discomfort caused by holding conflicting beliefs or engaging in contradictory behavior.

Self-Perception Theory: The idea that we infer our own thoughts, attitudes, and motivations based on observing our own behavior.

Motivated Reasoning: The tendency to selectively seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs and ignore information that challenges them.