cognitive dissonancenoun [ U ]
uk/ˌkɒɡ.nɪ.tɪv ˈdɪs.ən.əns//ˌkɑːɡ.nɪ.t̬ɪv ˈdɪs.ən.əns/specializeda state in which there is a difference between your experiences or behaviour and your beliefs about what is true:
Cognitive dissonance may allow people to reconcile reports that the war is not going well with their belief that it is going well.