TOEFL Speaking Task 3

Concepts in psychology often explain how people process information. One such concept is 'cognitive dissonance,' which refers to the mental discomfort experienced when a person holds two conflicting beliefs, or when their behavior contradicts their beliefs. To reduce this discomfort, people often change their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to achieve consistency. This process is usually unconscious and helps maintain a positive self-image.

Professor: Let me give you an example from a study. Imagine a student, Mark, who strongly believes that smoking is harmful and considers himself health-conscious. However, during a stressful exam week, he starts smoking a few cigarettes to relax. He feels uneasy because his behavior conflicts with his belief. To reduce this discomfort, Mark might convince himself that 'just a few cigarettes won't really harm me' or that 'stress is more dangerous than smoking.' Over time, he might even change his attitude and think smoking isn't that bad after all. This shift in his belief—from 'smoking is harmful' to 'it's not that harmful'—is his way of resolving the dissonance. His mind creates a rationalization to align his actions with his self-image as a reasonable person.