What Is Cognitive Dissonance? Definition, Symptoms, and Examples Leave a comment

This is particularly true if the disparity between their beliefs and behaviors involves something that is central to their sense of self. Cognitive dissonance can often have a powerful influence on our behaviors and actions. It doesn’t just influence how you feel; it also motivates you to take action to reduce feelings of discomfort.

• Sometimes, new information leads to cognitive dissonance, but that also allows you to take new actions you may not have thought about taking before.
• There are a variety of ways people are thought to resolve the sense of dissonance when cognitions don’t seem to fit together.
• To strengthen the belief, new converts would be needed, which requires proselytizing.

After disconfirmation, for example, there was a sharp increase in the frequency with which group members decided that other people who telephoned them or visited their group were actually spacemen. They tried to get orders and messages from the “spacemen” for a future reality that would be consistent with their original beliefs. The use of the Internet offers the additional benefit of enabling both a universal and targeted program as initial activities can include screening for risk factors and tailoring the subsequent content. For example, ‘Student Bodies’ is an 8-week psycho-educational eating disorder prevention program that was developed in the United States and trialed among female adolescents (mean age 15.1 years) and their parents. It is recommended that future research investigate the use of cognitive dissonance and Internet-based approaches in schools. Other times, you may try to rationalize the inconsistent thought or behavior so it appears to be more consistent with your beliefs.

The Why and How of Defending Belief in a Just World

https://ecosoberhouse.com/ occurs when a person holds two related but contradictory cognitions, or thoughts. American psychologist Leon Festinger first developed the concept in the 1950s. It can occur when a person holds two contradictory beliefs at the same time. Similarly, in the abortion debate, the introduction of new information to both sides can lead to reconciliation through understanding and changes in both action and thought. Although individuals may never agree on the politics and policy of abortion, the conflict — particularly violent conflict — can be reduced and eliminated.

It helps people get started on the “psychological work” needed to reduce inconsistencies. For example, let’s say you watch a documentary that gives you some new beliefs about the ethics of fast fashion. You didn’t think about it much before, but if you continue to make the same clothing choices, you’ll feel some cognitive dissonance. In the 1950s laboratory experiments on cognitive dissonance, participants had to complete a series of boring tasks.

Chapter 7: Thinking and Intelligence

It feels good knowing you’re able to uphold certain values, like the ones you learned from your parents and caregivers or the ones you’ve carved out for yourself based on your own personal experiences. This episode of the podcast Behavioral Grooves features an interview with Dr. Kathleen Vohs on cognitive dissonance theory. Dr. Vohs discusses the topic as it relates to supporters of Former President Donald Trump justifying one of his controversial tweets in 2019. One solution to this truth problem would be to try to make sense of what happened by establishing some new reality. This solution would involve creating new truths that are consistent with their previous beliefs and actions. New judgments about the present and predictions about the future were made that were consistent with the original belief, with the disconfirming event being treated like a bump in the road.

One reason for this, the researchers conclude, is cognitive dissonance. Adversaries may devalue or reject peace proposals in order to rationalize their history and beliefs. In 2016, researchers Michael Ent and Mary Gerend analyzed two studies on the relationship between cognitive dissonance on people’s negative attitudes towards beneficial medical screening. Seeing this contradiction, many of us respond by either rationalizing our behaviors, rejecting environmentalism and the evidence it relies on, or adopting the belief that our individual actions have a negligible effect on the environment. This prevents the widespread behavioral change many environmental causes call for. Dr. Stacey Diane Arañez Litam (she, her, siya) is a licensed professional clinical counselor and supervisor, a national certified counselor, a certified clinical mental health counselor, as well as a board-certified diplomate and sexologist.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Individuals on both sides of the abortion debate can be unwilling to look at new information about the other side’s stance in an attempt to avoid cognitive dissonance treatment. This concept helps explain why people are so opposed to counterarguments, especially when it regards a value or belief that is very important to them. Cognitive dissonance is so unpleasant that individuals would often rather be close-minded than be informed and deal with the repercussions of cognitive dissonance. Yet another way that people react to cognitive dissonance is by adding or creating new cognitions.