What Is Cognitive Dissonance?

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We read reviews after the fact not to gather information, but to validate our personal experiences.

Post-decision doubt drives us to seek reassurance and reduce inner conflict.

Reviews help us compare reactions and see where our opinions fit socially.

​​​​After a recent negative car rental experience, I found myself going down a familiar rabbit hole, scrolling through online reviews of the company. The experience was over, and yet, there I was, reading complaint after complaint from strangers on the internet.

But I’m not the only one who does this. Why do we look up reviews for a hotel we’ve already stayed at, a movie we’ve watched, clothes we’ve bought, or even a doctor we’ve already visited? If we’re no longer gathering information to guide our decision-making, what are we actually looking for?

At first glance, it all seems pointless. But this habit is surprisingly common, and it reveals something important about how we interpret our experiences, especially the disappointing ones.

Making Sense of Our Experiences

People often experience a kind of inner conflict after making a decision. This can be something small, like ordering from a restaurant menu or buying a book, to something far more significant, like choosing a career........

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