] and if the decision was close then the effects of cognitive dissonance should be greater. In actuality, there was no “other version” of the study in which participants were led to believe the tasks were fun and interesting—when participants told the “other participant” that the study was fun, they were actually (unknown to them) speaking to a member of the research staff. Festinger and Carlsmith wanted to create a feeling of dissonance in participants—in this case, their belief (that lying should be avoided) is at odds with their action (they just lied to someone). Understanding this theory allows you to better comprehend your own behavior and motivations, as well as the behavior of others. It’s a powerful tool for self-improvement, negotiation, and persuasion. By understanding the causes and mechanisms of cognitive dissonance, you can use it to your advantage, whether it’s achieving personal goals or persuading others.
How Cognitive Dissonance Affects Behavior
Examples of such inconsistencies or http://transparencia.immujer.mazatlan.gob.mx/16-reasons-being-sober-is-worth-it/ dissonance could include someone who litters despite caring about the environment, someone who tells a lie despite valuing honesty, or someone who makes an extravagant purchase, but believes in frugality.
- One of the most popular cognitive approaches to the study of motivation has been the theory of cognitive dissonance, first systematically studied by the American psychologist Leon Festinger.
- Furthermore, as an individual progresses upward, it becomes progressively more difficult to successfully fulfill the needs of each higher level.
- The feeling of having a choice in a situation can significantly amplify the experience of dissonance if the chosen option conflicts with existing beliefs.
- For example, since individuals typically want to see themselves as ethical people, acting unethically would produce higher levels of dissonance.
- It profoundly impacts decision-making, persuasion, and attitude change.
- The desire to reduce dissonance frequently leads to self-justification, where individuals rationalize their actions or beliefs to maintain a positive self-image.
Dissonance that Results from Wanting Something We Can’t Have
With respect to foreseeable consequences, for example, researchers asked students to write essays favoring an unwanted campus policy; half of the students were told their essays would be forwarded to the campus advisory committee, the other half were told their essays might be forwarded. After writing the essay, all students were then told that none of their essays would be forwarded. For those students who were told their essay might be forwarded, the good news eliminated their dissonance, and they demonstrated little attitude change in post assessments. For those who were told their essays would be forwarded, and for whom this outcome was not foreseeable, dissonance was not eliminated. “The unforeseeable nature of the good consequence did not allow these participants to be free of their dissonance and the need to change their attitudes” (Cooper, 2007, p. 72). Cognitive dissonance theory was first proposed by Leon Festinger – a psychology professor at Stanford University – in the late 1950s.
Relations among cognitions
In a nutshell, cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort that arises when a person holds two or more conflicting beliefs, ideas, or values. It’s like having two opposing voices in your head, and the conflict creates tension. This theory, popularized by Leon Festinger, suggests that humans are inherently motivated to reduce this dissonance and restore a sense of consistency. Cognitive dissonance theory proposes that people seek psychological consistency between their expectations of life and the existential reality cognitive dissonance and addiction of the world. To function by that expectation of existential consistency, people continually reduce their cognitive dissonance in order to align their cognitions (perceptions of the world) with each other and their actions.
In other words, it is the psychological discomfort that activates selective exposure as a dissonance-reduction strategy. Rather than trying to reduce dissonance after it occurs, we may attempt to avoid dissonance through selective exposure. In other words, consumers select attitude-consistent information and avoid attitude-challenging information.
According To Cognitive Dissonance Theory Human Beings Are Motivated To
Receiving only one dollar did not seem to justify lying to the confederate and compelled subjects in the one-dollar group to internalize the “interesting task” mental attitude. The subjects convinced themselves that the tasks were somewhat interesting to rectify the dissonance due to inconsistency between believing the tasks were boring but telling someone they were interesting. Cognitive dissonance theory, a cornerstone of social psychology, posits that individuals experience discomfort or dissonance when holding conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors.
Another marijuana addiction means to reduce cognitive dissonance is selective exposure. This theory has been discussed since the early days of Festinger’s proposal of cognitive dissonance. The idea is, choosing something that is in opposition to how you feel or believe in will increase cognitive dissonance. Self-consistency theory shares many similarities with self-affirmation theory. Both say dissonance is significantly related to threats to the self-system and both believe most people generally have a healthy self-esteem.
In addition to the condition of free choice, research demonstrated that dissonance occurs, but only when people are committed to their behavior, only when the behavior leads to aversive consequences, and only when those consequences are foreseeable. Psychologist Leon Festinger first described the theory of cognitive dissonance in 1957. According to Festinger, cognitive dissonance occurs when people’s thoughts and feelings are inconsistent with their behavior, which results in an uncomfortable, disharmonious feeling. Based on his observations of individuals he believed to be self-actualized, including historical figures such as the U.S. presidents Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, Maslow outlined a cluster of 14 characteristics that distinguish self-actualized individuals. Additionally, self-actualized individuals intensely appreciate simple or natural events, such as a sunrise, and they sometimes experience profound changes that Maslow termed peak experiences.
- If the person changes the current attitude, after the dissonance occurs, they are then obligated to commit to that course of behavior.
- This study determined that having high control can lead to higher efforts, leading to higher rewards.
- At the determined place and time, the cult assembled to await their rescue.
- Listening to a dull discussion was not worth the embarrassment of reading the obscene words, resulting in cognitive dissonance.
However, participants who were only paid $1 had more trouble justifying their actions to themselves—they didn’t want to admit to themselves that they told a lie over such a small amount of money. Consequently, participants in this group ended up reducing the dissonance they felt another way—by reporting that the study had indeed been interesting. In other words, it appears that participants reduced the dissonance they felt by deciding that they hadn’t lied when they said the study was enjoyable and that they really had liked the study. We thrive on a sense of order and coherence in our thoughts and actions. When these elements clash, it triggers a discomforting feeling, and we are naturally driven to resolve it.
