PsychologyJuly 13, 2026

incongruence

/ɪnˈkɒŋɡruəns/

Definition

A state of mismatch or disagreement between two things, specifically referring here to the discrepancy between a person's facial expression of trustworthiness and their actual behavioral outcome.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'in-' (not) and 'congruere' (to agree or coincide). It entered English to describe a lack of harmony or correspondence between elements that should otherwise align.

In the news

In this study, researchers examine how incongruence between visual social cues and real-world actions affects a participant's ability to learn and make decisions. This highlights whether individuals continue to trust faces that behave in ways that contradict their initial appearance.

The Influence of Social Cues in Learning and Decision-Making Over Time

Read the full article ↗

Frontiers

Related words

Learn a word like this every day

Meet one new word every morning.

Newspoken pulls one carefully chosen word from the day’s news — with a clear definition, context, and light review that makes it stick. Get it on your phone.

Not for marketing. One email on launch day.