What psychological phenomenon occurs when two cognitions clash and create discomfort?

Cognitive dissonance refers to the uncomfortable feeling that arises when an individual holds two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values. This psychological phenomenon often leads to a state of mental tension or discomfort, prompting the person to seek resolution. To alleviate this discomfort, individuals might change one of their conflicting beliefs or attitudes, justify their behavior, or trivialize the importance of one of the conflicting ideas.

In contrast, actor/observer bias pertains to the tendency for people to attribute their own actions to situational factors while attributing others' actions to their character or disposition. Burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion caused by prolonged and excessive stress, typically within a work environment. Belief perseverance refers to the tendency to maintain one's beliefs even in the face of contrary evidence, which does not specifically involve the clash of cognitions that leads to discomfort. This distinction underscores why cognitive dissonance is the most relevant phenomenon in this context.