Cognitive dissonance: Definition, effects, and examples

As we noted earlier, the idea that dissonance can be experienced by one group member because of counterattitudinal behavior on the part of another group member arose from a union of dissonance theory with social identity theory. In social groups, members experience an cognitive dissonance and addiction intersubjectivity with other members of their group and feel as one with those members. We found (Norton et al, 2003) that group members experienced dissonance when their fellow group members chose to make statements that were contrary to their attitudes. Several other studies supported the prediction that dissonance might be an active factor in producing positive changes in people’s mental health.

• Otherwise it wouldn’t make sense why we would choose the lower-rated school.
• It can help to view the situation you’re in from the outside, stepping back so you can see the big picture.
• Recognizing and reconciling cognitive dissonance is not always a feel-good experience.
• It causes a feeling of discomfort that can motivate people to try to feel better.
• In an intriguing experiment, Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) asked participants to perform a series of dull tasks (such as turning pegs in a peg board for an hour).

The Drive Properties of Dissonance: Reality or Metaphor?

Individuals in the low-dissonance group chose between a desirable product and one rated 3 points lower on an 8-pointscale. If you took the job you would miss your loved ones; if you turned the job down, you would pine for the beautiful streams, mountains, and valleys. Life is filled with decisions, and decisions (as a general rule) arouse dissonance.

Forced Compliance Behavior

Using an effort justification approach, Axsom (1989) demonstrated that being personally responsible for engaging in an effortful therapy could help students alleviate speech anxiety. Similarly, effort justification was also found to be useful to alleviate clients’ fear of assertiveness (Cooper, 1980). Using a different dissonance-inducing paradigm, Mendonca & Brehm (1983) showed that giving obese children the perception that they chose which of two therapies to engage in produced greater weight loss than assigning children to a therapy. Therefore, dissonance emerged from the argument between incentive theorists and dissonance theorists unscathed, but only under conditions of high decision freedom (choice). As research accumulated, dissonance continued to receive support by finding additional moderator variables that allowed dissonance to function.

Why Is There a Dissonance Drive?

• In the history of science, a theory or perspective can become important because it is bold and controversial.
• Just as people can be slightly hungry or extremely hungry, Festinger’s theory provided for different magnitudes of dissonance.
• But because we want the benefits of presenting ourselves a certain way, we don’t mind the inconsistency in our behavior.
• To the contrary, When Prophecy Fails (Festinger et al., 1956) was an analysis and prediction of what would happen to real people in the real world who had committed themselves to a prediction that would be contradicted by reality.

Being open to serendipity could be the secret to a life full of unexpected joys.

General Health

Maybe the decision or commitment wasn’t as right for us as we initially thought, even if it means overcoming our “no second-guessing” bias and making a different decision. Admitting it, apologizing if need be, and moving forward can save us a lot of time, mental energy and hurt feelings. Self-awareness seems to be a key to understanding how and when cognitive dissonance may play a role in your life. If you find yourself justifying or rationalizing decisions or behaviors that you’re not quite clear you firmly believe in, that might be a sign that cognitive dissonance is at work. If your explanation for something is, “Well, that’s the way I’ve always done it or thought about it,” that may also be a sign.

• Cognitive dissonance can feel a lot like anxiety and stress — and they often come paired together.
• If a person finds themselves in a situation where they have to do something that they don’t agree with, they’ll experience discomfort.
• Understanding what caused the dissonance can help you figure out the best way to address it.
• Studies that attempt to replicate previous research often do so in a different context, with a different attitude issue, and with wording that is similar, but not identical, to the original work.