Social psychologists have discovered that one
of the most powerful determinants of human behavior stems from our need
to preserve a stable, positive self-image. Most people believe they are above average—more ethical and competent, better drivers,
better leaders, better judges of character, and more attractive than the major-
ity. But if most of us see ourselves as reasonable,
moral, and smart, what happens when we are confronted with information
implying that we have behaved in ways that are unreasonable, immoral, or
stupid?
Cognitive dissonance is the state of having inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, especially as relating to behavioural decisions and attitude change.
It is the mental stress experienced by a person who holds two or more contrary beliefs or ideas simultaneously. This can occur as a result of a person taking an action that contradicts personal ideal or coming across information that contradicts said ideals..
The mind of the human is wired so as to take a position of compromise when our core values and ethos are tested. Someone said "as fallible human beings, all of us share the impulse to justify ourselves and avoid taking responsibility for any actions that may turn out to be harmful, immoral, or stupid. Most of us will never be in a position to make decisions affecting the lives and deaths of millions of people, but whether the consequences of our mistakes are trivial or tragic, on a small scale or a national canvas, most of us find it difficult, if not impossible, to say, “I was wrong; I made a terrible mistake.” The higher the stakes — emotional, financial, moral — the greater the difficulty".
Even the most ethical of men eventually have to compromise