People find themselves seeking a path to narcissistic abuse recovery in a variety of different contexts. Whether it is the cognitive dissonance of a gaslighting partner, the intermittent warmth of a narcissistic parent, the passive-aggressive undermining of a spiteful sibling, or the quiet erosion of self-worth by a hostile colleague in the workplace, the trauma is real. Most devastating is…
Cognitive dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is a psychological term that describes the mental discomfort and tension that arises when a person holds conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values, or when their actions contradict their beliefs. This state of discomfort motivates individuals to resolve the inconsistency in their thoughts and behaviors to regain a sense of internal harmony. People may modify their beliefs, attitudes, or actions to align them with one another or rationalize and justify their inconsistencies to reduce the dissonance. The concept of cognitive dissonance was first introduced by psychologist Leon Festinger in the 1950s.