Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

According to Festinger, the three basic things that people can do to reduce cognitive dissonance are:
A. Change their conflicting behavior to make it match their attitude.
B. Change their conflicting attitude over a trustworthy message.
C. Change their current conflicting cognition to justify their behavior.
D. Form new cognitions to justify their behavior.
E. Use the information processing peripheral route.

Correct option is D

Leon Festinger's Cognitive Dissonance Theory (1957) states that when people experience inconsistency (dissonance) between their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors, they feel discomfort and are motivated to reduce this dissonance. He proposed three primary ways to reduce cognitive dissonance:

1. Change behavior to align with attitudes
If a person realizes their behavior contradicts their attitude, they may change their behavior to reduce inconsistency.
Example: A smoker who believes smoking is unhealthy might quit smoking to match their belief.

2. Change cognition to justify behavior
Instead of changing behavior, people might modify their thinking to justify their actions.
Example: A smoker might convince themselves that "smoking helps reduce stress," thus reducing guilt.

3.Add new cognitions to justify behavior
People can introduce new thoughts to support their behavior and reduce conflict.
Example: A smoker might say, "My grandfather smoked and lived to be 90," adding a justification to reduce dissonance.

Information Booster:
-Cognitive dissonance occurs when people experience psychological discomfort due to conflicting beliefs or actions.
-Festinger (1957) proposed that people try to reduce dissonance through behavior change, cognitive change, or adding new cognitions.
-Real-life applications include smoking cessation, consumer decision-making, and attitude change.
-Effort Justification: The more effort people put into something, the more they justify it to reduce dissonance.
-Post-decision dissonance: After making a decision, people emphasize the positives of their choice while downplaying alternatives.
-Selective exposure: People avoid information that contradicts their beliefs to reduce dissonance.
-Dissonance reduction is a key principle in marketing, political persuasion, and behavioral psychology.