Every individual has a unique set of values ​​and is easily faced with conflicting choices in their daily lives. When individuals act on these choices, they are sometimes presented with a conflict of interest between the beliefs they hold and the actions they commit. Such internal conflict is defined by Leon Festinger as cognitive dissonance: “a psychological state in which an individual's cognitions—beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors—are at odds” (Bloom, Santos, & Egan, 2007, p. 978). Sendhil Mullainathan and Ebonya Washington (2009) describe cognitive dissonance as “the internal need for consistency” (p. 86). Mullainathan and Washington exemplify cognitive dissonance as that which occurs when “[an] individual…subconsciously [changes] his or her beliefs to alleviate the discomfort of having inconsistent attitudes and actions (p. 87). Cognitive dissonance occurs because people are generally uncomfortable with discrepancies in their lives. To account for these differences and regain mental harmony, individuals use “cognitive dissonance reduction mechanisms” to devalue their original set of beliefs, stop or alter their behavior, or modify their thinking to fit their behaviors (Bloom et al., 2007). , page 978).Bloom et al. (2007) suggest that cognitive dissonance reduction mechanisms are the result of “developmentally constrained systems” (p. 982). The brain's limited capacity for real-time mental functioning may imply that cognitive dissonance reduction mechanisms are processes through which the central executive works to streamline mental work more consistently and efficiently. This information processing system fosters an environment in which the brain can store and maintain a greater amount of data over a more extensive...... medium of paper...... reduction mechanisms, I achieve cognitive peace as My belief system realigns with my behaviors. Whether making a choice at the grocery store, deciding to end a relationship, or experiencing buyer's remorse, cognitive dissonance is evident in everyday events. As described by Festinger and in my personal illustration, a mental disharmony (cognitive dissonance) occurs when individuals experience a misalignment between their beliefs and behaviors, and reduction mechanisms are then used to regain cognitive coherence and reduce mental energy expended . Works Cited Bloom, P. , Santos, L. R., & Egan, L. C. (2007). The origins of cognitive dissonance. Psychological Science, 18(11), 978-983.Mullainathan, S., & Washington, E. (2009). Sticking to your vote: Cognitive dissonance and political attitudes. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 1(1), 86-111.