Association of Social Work Boards Masters (ASWB MSW) Practice Exam

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What is cognitive dissonance?

  1. The matching of awareness, experience, and communication

  2. A mental block that inhibits the processing of new information

  3. Conflict arising from having to choose between contradictory beliefs

  4. The circumstances that surround exchanges of information

The correct answer is: Conflict arising from having to choose between contradictory beliefs

Cognitive dissonance is the psychological discomfort that arises when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs or ideas at the same time. This often leads to feelings of mental discomfort and tension, as well as the desire to reduce or eliminate this inconsistency. Option A is incorrect because it does not accurately capture the concept of cognitive dissonance, which involves conflicting beliefs rather than matching ones. Option B is incorrect because cognitive dissonance is not a mental block but rather a phenomenon that occurs when beliefs or ideas clash with one another. Option D is incorrect because while circumstances may contribute to the experience of cognitive dissonance, it is not the same as the actual definition of the term.