One of the psychological factors that might curtail leaders' ability to act rationally is cognitive dissonance. Leaders might hold particular world views and belief systems and these might shape their foreign policy preferences and behaviors decisively. They might
be predisposed to interpret the external stimuli in such a way that corresponds and validates their previously held beliefs. Whenever they are exposed to some signals that contradict their previously held world views and belief systems they might tend to ignore them, most of the time at the peril of the national interests of their countries defined rationally. Thus, the correct answer is A.