Which term describes an uncomfortable feeling that often results from protecting core beliefs?

The term that describes an uncomfortable feeling arising from protecting core beliefs is cognitive dissonance. This psychological phenomenon occurs when an individual experiences tension or discomfort due to holding two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes, especially when their behavior contradicts these beliefs. For example, if someone believes strongly in a particular political view but is presented with information that challenges that view, they may experience cognitive dissonance as they struggle to reconcile their beliefs with the new information. This discomfort can lead individuals to rationalize their beliefs, dismiss the contradictory information, or change their beliefs to reduce the dissonance.

In contrast, justification of effort refers to the tendency to attribute greater value to an outcome if significant effort was required to achieve it. The availability heuristic is a mental shortcut where people rely on immediate examples that come to mind when evaluating a specific topic or decision. Framing involves presenting information in a particular way to influence perception or decision-making. None of these concepts directly address the uncomfortable feeling related to conflicting beliefs and the effort to protect them.