Cognitive Dissonance Theory: A Crash Course

Summary

Cognitive dissonance, a concept from social psychology, refers to the discomfort experienced when holding two contradictory beliefs or behaviors. First described by Leon Festinger in 1957, it arises from inconsistency, such as a smoker knowing the habit is harmful. People resolve this dissonance by altering beliefs, changing behaviors, adding rationalizing thoughts, or trivializing the inconsistency. Dissonance is not just a mental conflict but can cause physical discomfort, motivating individuals to restore consistency for inner peace. The need to resolve dissonance is heightened when individuals perceive they had a choice and foresee negative consequences from their inconsistent actions.

Takeaways

• 📚 Cognitive Dissonance was first introduced by Leon Festinger in 1957, marking a significant concept in social psychology.
• 🤔 It is defined as the mental discomfort experienced when holding two or more inconsistent thoughts or beliefs.
• 🚬 An example given is a smoker who knows smoking is unhealthy but continues the habit, leading to dissonance.
• 🔄 To resolve dissonance, individuals might change their beliefs, alter their behavior, add rationalizing thoughts, or trivialize the inconsistency.
• 💡 Changing a belief, such as downplaying the health risks of smoking, can alleviate the discomfort caused by dissonance.
• 🏃‍♂️ Adjusting behavior, like quitting smoking, is another way to restore consistency and reduce dissonance.
• 🍇 Adding new, rationalizing thoughts, such as engaging in other healthy behaviors, can also help in managing cognitive dissonance.
• 🤷‍♂️ Some may choose to trivialize the inconsistency, accepting the dissonance without necessarily resolving it.
• 🧠 The need to resolve dissonance stems from the desire for a clear, consistent understanding of the world and the discomfort of physical tension it causes.
• 🔍 Research indicates that cognitive dissonance can lead to physical discomfort, which people are motivated to alleviate.
• 🎓 The motivation to resolve dissonance is heightened when individuals perceive they had a choice in the matter and anticipate negative consequences.

Q & A

What is cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon where a person experiences discomfort due to holding two or more inconsistent thoughts, beliefs, or values.

Who first introduced the concept of cognitive dissonance?

Leon Festinger introduced the concept of cognitive dissonance in his 1957 book, where he outlined a detailed understanding of the theory.

How does cognitive dissonance manifest in an individual's thoughts?

It manifests when an individual holds two inconsistent thoughts, such as knowing that smoking is unhealthy while also being a regular smoker.

What are the ways Festinger suggested to resolve cognitive dissonance?

Festinger suggested changing one of the inconsistent thoughts, changing behavior to align with beliefs, adding new rationalizing thoughts, or trivializing the inconsistency to resolve dissonance.

Why do people feel the need to resolve cognitive dissonance?

People feel the need to resolve cognitive dissonance because it creates a sense of physical discomfort and inner tension, which motivates them to restore consistency and feel better.

What role does the perception of choice play in experiencing cognitive dissonance?

The perception of having a choice over the inconsistent behavior or belief is crucial for experiencing cognitive dissonance. If there is no choice, the inconsistency does not cause significant dissonance.

How does the perception of aversive consequences influence cognitive dissonance?

The perception of negative consequences resulting from the inconsistency increases the motivation to resolve the dissonance, as it adds a layer of potential harm to the inconsistency.

What is an example of cognitive dissonance provided in the script?

An example given is a person who smokes cigarettes despite knowing that smoking is unhealthy, leading to an inconsistency between their behavior and their knowledge.

How does cognitive dissonance relate to physical discomfort?

Cognitive dissonance is associated with physical discomfort, as studies have shown that experiencing inconsistency can lead to negative physical tension.

What are some strategies people use to add new thoughts to reduce cognitive dissonance?

People might add new thoughts that rationalize the inconsistency, such as acknowledging other healthy behaviors they engage in despite the unhealthy action causing the dissonance.

Why is cognitive dissonance important to understand in social psychology?

Understanding cognitive dissonance is important in social psychology because it helps explain how individuals cope with inconsistencies in their beliefs and behaviors, which can influence their attitudes and decisions.