According to Consistency Theory, how do people generally respond to cognitive inconsistencies?

In Consistency Theory, cognitive dissonance arises when an individual holds two or more contradictory beliefs, attitudes, or values, or behaves in ways that conflict with their beliefs. To resolve this discomfort, individuals typically strive for internal consistency. This is achieved by altering one of the conflicting attitudes or beliefs, thereby minimizing the dissonance they experience.

Changing attitudes to achieve consistency is a common coping mechanism. For example, if someone who values health compromises by smoking, they might change their attitude about smoking to justify their behavior or try to quit to align their actions with their health values. This adaptive response aligns with the premise of Consistency Theory, where the goal is to maintain a harmonious self-concept and minimize cognitive dissonance.

The other options do not adequately capture the typical response to cognitive inconsistency as described in Consistency Theory. Embracing inconsistencies or ignoring them would likely lead to increased dissonance rather than resolution, and seeking external validation doesn't directly address the internal conflict that arises from having inconsistent beliefs. Thus, the choice to change attitudes to achieve consistency is the most accurate reflection of how individuals typically respond to cognitive inconsistencies.