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added a General definition section
The term ''Collective Cognitive Dissonance'' was created by [[Ulf Dunkel]] in the German [[Circumcision Debate]] in 2012. It describes the issue of cognitive dissonance for a group of persons, kind of "inherited" over generations.
== General definition ==Collective cognitive dissonance refers to a psychological phenomenon where a group of people hold onto beliefs or attitudes that are contradictory to their actions or experiences. This can lead to a sense of discomfort or dissonance within the group, but rather than change their beliefs or actions, the group may rationalize or justify their behavior to reduce the discomfort. For example, a group of people who believe in environmental conservation may continue to engage in environmentally harmful practices such as excessive consumerism or driving gas-guzzling cars. Rather than confronting the contradiction between their beliefs and actions, they may rationalize their behavior by telling themselves that they're making small contributions to the cause, or that it's the responsibility of governments or corporations to make larger changes. Collective cognitive dissonance can also occur in political or social contexts where a group's actions or beliefs contradict their professed values or principles. This phenomenon can be difficult to address, as it requires individuals within the group to confront their own contradictions and work towards changing their beliefs and behaviors. == Cognitive Dissonance dissonance ==
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|Text=In psychology, '''cognitive dissonance''' is the mental stress or discomfort experienced by an individual who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values.