Leon Festinger published his theory of cognitive dissonance in 1957. Cognitive dissonance may belong to a broader category of psychological theories of consistency, where an individual is theorized to seek consistency due to internal states of inconsistency that cause discomfort. Festinger’s (1957/1963) cognitive dissonance theory posited that individuals were motivated to reduce dissonance and achieve consonance between cognitions, behaviors, and the environment, thus resulting in changes in thoughts or actions. Immediately following its publication, cognitive dissonance theory became an often-cited theory that invited both further research and criticism. Counter arguments to account for the observed cognitive and behavioral changes included self-perception theory. Cognitive dissonance theory is applicable to management and leadership in the domains of organizational justice and ethics, leadership behavior, and decisions.