Leon Festinger’s Theory of Cognitive Dissonance is characterized by the mental anguish and stress caused when an individual holds contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. The theory states that the discomfort felt by a person experiencing cognitive dissonance will act as a motivating force to reduce the dissonance. In addition to attempting to reduce the dissonance, that a person will actively avoid any new information that may increase the feelings of dissonance.

An example of Cognitive Dissonance Theory could be seen in Internalized Homophobia. In today’s society where suicides resulting from bullying are becoming more and more prevalent, I believe Internalized Homophobia to be one of the main reasons. Many children are raised thinking that homosexuality is wrong, and therefore anyone who participates in homosexual behavior is wrong as well. As young men and women begin to identify as Homosexual, their ideas, beliefs, and values begin to become misaligned. Many homosexuals will even admit to having participating in homophobic bullying in an attempt to cloak their sexuality and relieve some of the dissonance.