Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. This produces a feeling of mental discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance. For example, when people smoke (behavior) and they know that smoking causes cancer (cognition), they are in a state of cognitive dissonance. Who came up with cognitive dissonance theory? Cognitive dissonance was first investigated by Leon Festinger, arising out of a participant observation study of a cult which believed that the earth was going to be destroyed by a flood, and what happened to its members — particularly the really committed ones who had given up their homes and jobs to work for the cult — when the flood did not happen. While fringe members were more inclined to recognize that they had made fools of themselves and to "put it down to experience," committed members were more likely to re-interpret the evid...
🧠 Rising OCD Rates in Pakistan: Understanding the Causes Behind the Trend Over the past decade, Pakistan has seen a noticeable rise in Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) cases. Once considered rare or misunderstood, OCD is now being recognized as a serious mental health condition affecting people of all ages and backgrounds. But what’s causing this surge? Let’s explore the multifaceted reasons behind the increasing prevalence of OCD in Pakistan. 🔍 What is OCD? Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder is a mental health condition characterized by: Obsessions : Persistent, unwanted thoughts, images, or urges that cause distress or anxiety. Compulsions : Repetitive behaviors or mental acts performed to reduce that distress or prevent a feared event. For example, someone might repeatedly wash their hands to “remove germs,” even when there’s no real contamination risk. Others may repeatedly check locks, seek reassurance, or perform religious rituals excessively. 📈 Why Are OCD Leve...