# Cognitive Dissonance Cognitive dissonance is when a mind has two conflicting thoughts at the same time.\ \ For example, in the context of of a non-vegan, the understanding that other animals are worthy of moral consideration and yet choosing to actively cause them unjustifiable harm is a form of cognitive dissonance.\ \ These tensions causes discomfort in the person experiencing the cognitive dissonance, which can result in them behaving irrationally, including becoming unexpectedly aggressive towards others who point it out (or whose simple existence causes them to be confronted with it).\ \ --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://veganvigil.gitbook.io/overview/challenging-the-mind/cognitive-dissonance.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.