A–Z Glossary

Cognitive dissonance

The mental discomfort that happens when beliefs and experiences clash.

← Back to A–Z Glossary

Search results for: Cognitive dissonance

Expectations vs reality and pressure to feel happy

Expectations vs reality and pressure to feel happy

Why pregnancy expectations feel so strong Expectations are not random; they are mental predictions about how life should unfold. They come from family stories, cultural messages, previous pregnancies, online images, and personal hopes. In pregnancy, these predictions can become unusually rigid. Many people absorb the idea that a wanted pregnancy should automatically feel serene, grateful, […]