Cognitive Dissonance: Similar to an oxymoron (a contradiction in terms, such as military intelligence, must see TV, congressional ethics, and social science), cognitive dissonance represents conflicting perceptions, ideas, or cognitions that together don't make sense. Examples are psychology/science, psychotherapy/cure, obesity/disease, and Dr. Phil/expert. Cognitive dissonance often causes tension that is released by rationalization, ridicule, turning the dial, or writing satirical web sites.
