Cognitive dissonance examples

If you’re interested in psychology and human behavior, you’ve probably heard the phrase cognitive dissonance. It’s the term coined by psychologist Leon Festinger in 1954 to describe “the feeling of psychological discomfort produced by the combined presence of two thoughts that do not follow from one another. Festinger proposed that the greater the discomfort, the greater the desire to reduce the dissonance of the two cognitive elements” (Harmon-Jones & Mills, 1999). Dissonance theory suggests that if individuals act in ways that contradict their beliefs, then they typically will change their beliefs to align with their actions (or vice-a-versa). The easiest way to describe the concept is by a quick example. Say you’re a student looking to choose between two different universities you’d like to attend. After being accepted to each, you’re asked to freely rate the universities after considering each college’s pros and cons. You make your decision and are asked to rate the two universities once again. People will usually rate the chosen university as better and the rejected option as worse after having made their decision. So even if the university we didn’t choose was rated higher initially, our choice dictates that more often than not, we’ll rate it higher. Otherwise it wouldn’t make sense why we would choose the lower-rated school. Another example can be seen in many people’s continuing to smoke two or three packs of cigarettes a day, even though research shows they are sh...

We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. (Last Updated On: March 26, 2023) Cognitive dissonance is discomfort or distress caused by conflicting beliefs, behaviors, feelings, ideas, or values. It is an uncomfortable psychological state that people experience when they have an inconsistency between how they think and how they act. This feeling of dissonance may be experienced as anxiety, Table of Contents • • • • • • • • • • • What Is Cognitive Dissonance? People tend to prefer it when their attitudes align with their perceptions of the world. When these beliefs don’t match up to what we experience, it can leave us feeling uncomfortable and unsure. Definition: Cognitive dissonance refers to the sense of unease and discomfort people expe...

Written by Paul Boyce Posted in Last Updated May 15, 2023 What is Cognitive Dissonance? Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that has captured the interest of psychologists, researchers, and the general public alike. First introduced by psychologist Leon Festinger in the 1950s, cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort experienced by an individual when they hold two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values. This discomfort arises from the inconsistency between the individual’s thoughts, leading them to seek ways to reconcile these conflicting ideas and restore cognitive harmony. Understanding this concept is crucial, as it influences various aspects of human behavior and decision-making, often leading individuals to make irrational choices or engage in self-justification in order to alleviate the discomfort. Furthermore, cognitive dissonance is a common experience in everyday life, manifesting in consumer behavior, political beliefs, personal relationships, and social issues. By studying the topic, we can gain valuable insights into the human mind, learn how to recognize inconsistencies in our own beliefs, and develop strategies to overcome this psychological discomfort, ultimately leading to personal growth and improved decision-making. Key Points • Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort that arises from holding conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. • It occurs when there is an inconsistency between two cognit...

Cognitive dissonance happens when you hold two conflicting thoughts in your mind at the same time — like loving both hamburgers and cows. Cognitive dissonance is a theory in social psychology first proposed by Leon Festinger. According to this theory, cognitive dissonance describes the discomfort experienced when two cognitions are incompatible with each other. A cognition is a piece of knowledge, such as a: • thought • attitude • personal value • behavior This incompatibility (dissonance) can happen when you do something that goes against one of your values. Or maybe you learn a new piece of information that disagrees with a long-standing belief or opinion. For example, eating meat even though you adore animals. As humans, we generally prefer for our world to make sense. Cognitive dissonance can be distressing. That’s why we often Share on Pinterest Illustration by Brittany England Here’s a look at some everyday examples of cognitive dissonance and how you might come to terms with them. 1. Picking up after your dog Let’s say you have a dog that you take for One day, halfway through the walk, you realize you forgot the bags. And your dog chooses that moment to do his business. You take a quick look along the street. No one’s around, so you call your dog and hustle away. Once home, you begin to feel guilty. You know it’s not right to leave your dog’s mess. What if someone steps in it or it ruins your neighbor’s garden? “But it’s just the one time,” you tell yourself. You ra...