What Is The Cognitive Dissonance Theory

What is the cognitive dissonance theory?

Cognitive dissonance theory postulates that an underlying psychological tension is created when an individual’s behavior is inconsistent with his or her thoughts and beliefs. This underlying tension then motivates an individual to make an attitude change that would produce consistency between thoughts and behaviors.

What is the cognitive dissonance theory best explains?

Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person’s behavior and beliefs do not complement each other or when they hold two contradictory beliefs. It causes a feeling of discomfort that motivates people to try to feel better. People may do this via defense mechanisms, such as avoidance.

What is cognitive dissonance theory in practice?

Many commonly cited examples of cognitive dissonance are of when we justify or rationalize negative choices or mistakes. But sometimes cognitive dissonance can help us establish positive behaviors or changes that our personality or previous habits would otherwise inhibit us from making.

What is the literary theory of cognitive dissonance?

The theory suggests that humans always seek to reduce inconsistencies in their actions and their beliefs. According to Festinger, if there is any inconsistency between a person’s moral code and their behaviour, it may cause them discomfort.

What are 3 examples of dissonance?

A baby crying, a person screaming and an alarm going off are all common examples of dissonance. These sounds are annoying, disruptive or put a listener on edge.

What are the 4 components of cognitive dissonance?

There are four theoretic paradigms of cognitive dissonance, the mental stress people experienced when exposed to information that is inconsistent with their beliefs, ideals or values: Belief Disconfirmation, Induced Compliance, Free Choice, and Effort Justification, which respectively explain what happens after a …

What is another word for cognitive dissonance?

Ambivalence is defined as: Simultaneous and contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward an object, person, or action. And that is pretty much the same definition as cognitive dissonance.

What factors influence cognitive dissonance?

• Wanting to avoid disappointment after unrealistic expectations1.
• Maintaining close relationships1.
• Negative or positive emotion when faced with new information2.
• Level of guilt or shame after receiving information.

Is cognitive dissonance theory objective?

Answer and Explanation: Cognitive dissonance is a highly interpretive psychological phenomenon. It is highly dependent on whether or not the person viewed his/her cognitions as contradictory to each other.

What is an example of a cognitive dissonance experiment?

Leon Festinger and James M. Carlsmith’s experiment was a cognitive dissonance experiment about forced compliance. They paid volunteers either one dollar or twenty dollars to lie about a boring task being fun. The well-paid volunteers suffered no cognitive dissonance because they could justify lying for payment.

What is an example of cognitive dissonance in a relationship?

Some examples of cognitive dissonance in relationships are cheating and abusive behavior, showing unsupportive behavior and being unwilling to compromise. One partner may believe that for a relationship to work, both partners must be supportive. Yet, the other partner is not supportive.