Cognitive dissonance challenges a possibility of human evolution. The standard approach in positive political theory posits that action choices are the consequences of preferences. It is also a prime example of how creative thinking and problem solving skills can come together to produce work that changes the way people look at. Cd is among the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology e. Cognitive dissonance theory and research dominated social psychology from the 1950s until the 1970s. An actionbased model of cognitive dissonance processes. This article arises out of a study that was conducted on cognitive dissonance in social work. One of the most popular cognitive approaches to the study of motivation has been the theory of cognitive dissonance, first systematically this article was most recently revised and updated by brian duignan, senior editor. The theory is somewhat counterintuitive and, in fact, fits into a category of counterintuitive social psychology theories sometimes referred to as action opinion. Cognitive dissonance has been one of the most enduring and successful theories in the history of social psychology. Dec 19, 2017 cognitive dissonance can play a major role in the decisions we make in life, and making the right decisions is directly impacted by how well do we understand cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is the psychological theory that describes the discomfort that results from holding two or more opposing beliefs, and you likely. Social psychology cognitive dissonance flashcards quizlet. Cognitive dissonance and experienced negative affect.
Aristotle believed that humans were naturally sociable, a necessity which allows us to live together an individual centered approach, whilst plato felt that the state controlled the individual and encouraged social responsibility through social context a sociocentered approach. The theory is somewhat counterintuitive and, in fact, fits into a category of counterintuitive social psychology theories sometimes. Cognitivedissonancetheory after50yearsofdevelopment. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors dissonance, something must change to eliminate the. Social psychology glossary this glossary defines many of the key terms used in class lectures and assigned readings. Cognitive dissonance theory an overview sciencedirect topics. The theory of cognitive dissonance, invented by leon festinger in 1957, is generally considered to be social psychologys most important and most provocative theory. According to selfperception theory, dissonance findings have nothing to do with a negative drive state called dissonance. Elliot aronson born january 9, 1932 is an american psychologist who has carried out experiments on the theory of cognitive dissonance, and invented the jigsaw classroom, a cooperative teaching technique which facilitates learning while reducing interethnic hostility and prejudice.
Despite all his work in the field of social psychology, leon festinger spent the latter part of his life in researching prehistoric archaeological data. Cognitive dissonance theory in social psychology iresearchnet. Cognitive dissonance cd is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting elements of knowledge. Therefore, cognitive dissonance is when two thoughts, attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors are so out of harmony that they make you feel psychologically uncomfortable. Eddie harmonjones, school of psychology, university of new south. Finally, the authors present results from experiments examining predictions derived from the actionbased model and neural processes involved in dissonance reduction. Leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance networked. While cognitive dissonance theory is often used to explain findings in social psychology on individuals attitude change surrounding social topics e. Classic book excerpt the social animal by elliot aronson cognitive dissonance leon festinger organized this array of findings and used them as the basis for a powerful theory of human motivation that he called the theory of cognitive dissonance. Although the idea that cognitive dissonance creates an unpleasant feeling state is a. His research examines moralized attitudes, feeling. As originally formulated festinger, 1957, cognitive dissonance is induced when a person holds two contradictory beliefs, or when a belief is incongruent with an action that the person had chosen freely to perform.
Apr 10, 20 cognitive dissonance challenges a possibility of human evolution cognitive dissonance cd is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting elements of knowledge. Cognitive dissonance social psychology ii introduction. In this study, research participants were asked to spend an hour completing boring tasks. Cognitive dissonance is defined as a state of tension that occurs when a person holds two cognitions. Lets take a look at the original theory of cognitive dissonance, created in 1957 by social psychologist leon festinger. Cognitive dissonance is defined as a state of tension that occurs when a. Cognitive dissonance theory of leon festinger free download as powerpoint presentation.
It has generated hundreds and hundreds of studies, from which much has been learned. The theory has obviously stood the test of time in that it is mentioned in most general and social psychology textbooks today. Pdf cognitive dissonance theory festinger researchgate. List of books and articles about cognitive dissonance. The theory of cognitive dissonance was developed in 1957 by leon festinger 1919 to 1989, an american psychologist, and has at its core the principle that people strive to maintain consistency among pairs of cognitions or knowledges about their own opinions and. Social psychology of crime control theater policies. That is, disagreement from others in a group generates dissonance, and subsequent. Festingers 1957 cognitive dissonance theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behavior in harmony and avoid disharmony or dissonance. Social psych ch 5 cognitive dissonance flashcards quizlet. She attracted a group of followers who left jobs, schools, and. Cognitive dissonance social psychology, the social animal. The theory of cognitive dissonance was developed in 1957 by leon festinger 1919 to 1989, an american psychologist, and has at its core the principle that people strive to maintain consistency among pairs of cognitions or knowledges about their.
A lot of earlier research had impact on festingers formulation of the social comparison theory, and these include studies on social groups, group dynamics, social communication, conformity and the autokinetic effect, compliant behavior, level of aspiration, and independence and dependence in response to unanimous majority. This paper examines the origins of the theory and the controversies it engendered. It was found that a comprehensive, contemporary view of these processes is largely absent. According to dissonance theory, selfesteem is threatened by inconsistency. Introduced by leon festinger in 1957and since that time debated, refined, and debated again by psychologists cognitive dissonance is defined as the aversive state of arousal that occurs when a person holds two or more cognitions that are inconsistent with each other. Social psychologyin particular, cognitive dissonance theorysuggests the opposite. In general, social psychologists, always looking for the next great theory, seemed to have shelved this book and its concepts within a couple of decades after it came out in 1957 see leon festingers comments 30 years later in appendix b of cognitive dissonance progress on a pivotal theory in social psychology edited by eddie harmonjones. A theory of cognitive dissonance download pdfepub ebook. Jun 11, 2017 a lot of earlier research had impact on festingers formulation of the social comparison theory, and these include studies on social groups, group dynamics, social communication, conformity and the autokinetic effect, compliant behavior, level of aspiration, and independence and dependence in response to unanimous majority. The theory of cognitive dissonance festinger, 1957. Start studying social psych ch 5 cognitive dissonance. Start studying social psychology cognitive dissonance.
Cognitive dissonance is among the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology. It refers to the mental conflict that occurs when a persons behaviors and beliefs do not align. If youre interested in psychology and human behavior, youve probably heard the phrase cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance an overview sciencedirect topics. Festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been one of the most in. However, some of the ways we reduce cognitive dissonance are more healthy than others.
In the mid1960s, social psychologist daryl bem proposed that cognitive dissonance findings could be explained by what he called selfperception theory. Availability heuristica cognitive rule, or mental shortcut, in which we judge how likely something is by how easy it is to think of cases. One key aspect of cognitive dissonance theory is that individuals experience a mental discomfort after taking. Cognitive dissonance is used to promote positive social behaviours, such as increased condom use. One of the points that dissonance theorists often make is that people will go to extraordinary lengths to reduce dissonance. Festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been one of the most influential theories in social psychology jones, 1985. Suffice it to mention that only five years after its introduction, brehm and cohen 1962, as cited in bem, 1967, p. A social and psychological study of a modern group that predicted the destruction of the world is a classic work of social psychology by leon festinger, henry riecken, and stanley schachter published in 1956, which studied a small ufo religion in chicago called the seekers that believed in an imminent apocalypse and its coping mechanisms after the event. Cognitive dissonance is described as psychological discomfort that arises from holding incompatible ideas at the same time. Cognitive dissonance social emotive neuroscience lab. Leon festinger leon festinger cognitive dissonance. Meet psychology today s bloggers on cognitive dissonance andrew luttrell, ph. Leon festingers social comparison theory the psychology. In 1959, festinger and his colleague james carlsmith published an influential study showing that cognitive dissonance can affect behavior in unexpected ways.
A altruisma motive to increase anothers welfare without conscious regard for ones own selfinterest. E embodied cognitionthe mutual influence of bodily sensations on cognitive preferences and social judgments. Cognitive dissonance is thus a state of tension or discomfort that arises whenever one holds two cognitions that are inconsistent with one another festinger, 1957. Our framework builds on an insight originating in social psychology with the work of festinger 1957 that suggests that actions could affect preferences through cognitive dissonance. In his 1972 social psychology textbook, the social animal, he. While at the university of minnesota, festinger read about a cult that believed that the end of the world was at hand. The theory rev olutionized thinking about psychological. The number of variations within this approach to selfevaluation regulation is also substantial. Festinger 1957 argued, the social group is a source of cognitive dissonance as well as a vehicle for reducing it. The theory of cognitive dissonance is one of the most significant and influential theories in the history of social psychology. This is known as the principle of cognitive consistency. Still, the emotions of cognitive dissonances, their potential to destroy the drive for knowledge, and consequently the fundamental need to overcome their negative effects have not received sufficient attention. Cognitive theories of motivation rely on your thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes to explain your motivation. An introduction to cognitive dissonance theory and an.
The most famous and widely cited of these theories is cognitive dissonance cdt. This proposition is the heart of festingers 1957 theory of cognitive dissonance, a theory which has received more widespread attention from personality and social psychologists in the past 10 years than any other. It can be a deeply internalized feeling of being uneasy with yourself or with others. Experimental researchstudies that explore causeeffect relationships by manipulating. Cognitive dissonance social psychology, the social. An example of a positive effect of dissonance can be that, lets say you believe taking candy off your daily diet is healthy, but you are so easily tempted by it. Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. Find materials for this course in the pages linked along the left. The psychological discomfort that one feels when his actions are not aligned with his beliefs is called cognitive dissonance, which all of us strive to avoid as much as possible. Sep 09, 2014 etsu online programs module 4 social psychology. Matz augsburg college wendy wood duke university as l.
The original theory proposed that a natural human motivation is to seek consistency amongst cognitions i. She attracted a group of followers who left jobs, schools, and spouses and. Its the term coined by psychologist leon festinger in. Suggested by leon festinger in 1957, the cognitive dissonance theory states that human beings always try their level best. In this study, research participants were asked to spend an hour completing boring tasks for example, repeatedly loading spools onto a tray. Simply stated, cognitive dissonance is a state of tension that occurs whenever an individual simultaneously holds two cognitions ideas, attitudes, beliefs, opinions that are. Leon festingers 1957 a theory of cognitive dissonance is a key text in the history of psychology one that made its author one of the most influential social psychologists of his time.
Using cognitive dissonance to encourage water conservation1. When it does happen, it is reduced in different ways. History of social psychology history of social psychology. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. Keech, reported receiving messages from extraterrestrial aliens that the world would end in a great flood on a specific date. Almost half a century ago social psychologist leon festinger developed the cognitive dissonance theory festinger, 1957. As formulated by festinger 1957, dissonance theory proposes that when a person holds two cognitions that are psychologically inconsistent, the person will experience cognitive dissonance, an unpleasant drive state akin to hunger or thirst. A cognitive dissonance approach harvard university.
Cognitive dissonance theory has a long and esteemed history in social psychology. Once dissonance is aroused, an individual is motivated to reduce it. A little more than 60 years ago, leon festinger published a theory of cognitive dissonance 1957. Cognitive dissonance is a theory in social psychology. From the time my yale mentors, bob cohen and jack brehm, introduced me to leon festingers manuscript on the theory of cognitive dissonance in 1957, i was excited by the scope of its domain starting with such a simple set of initial assumptions and principles, and leading to many nonobvious predictions. Cognitive dissonance social psychology iresearchnet. Cognitive dissonance in relationships everyday health. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Oct 21, 2019 cognitive dissonance is a theory in social psychology. Cognitive dissonance is the feeling that something is not sitting right with you. Cognitive dissonance a cognitive theory of motivation. Cognitivedissonance theory and research dominated social psychology from the 1950s until the 1970s. Cognitive dissonance theory festinger, 1957 continues to develop and inspire.
In his 1972 social psychology textbook, the social animal, he stated aronsons first. Cognitive dissonance theory an overview sciencedirect. An example of this approach is cognitive dissonance theory festinger 1957. Sep 28, 2017 cognitive dissonance is the feeling that something is not sitting right with you. Experimental realismthe degree to which an experiment absorbs, engages, and involves its participants. These methods help the person experiencing cognitive dissonance to reduce the discomfort and anxiety caused by conflicting beliefs.