Cognitive dissonance theory wicklund and brehm 1976 commented on the 20year history of dissonance theory by observing, to the extent that dissonance theory has evolved since 1957, the evolution has been primarily due to the discovery that responsibility is a prerequisite for effects that we call dissonance reduction p. Cognitive dissonance can lead to resistance to change and actors hold on to old behaviour. Defination cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. The theory revolutionized thinking about psychological processes, particularly regarding how rewards influence attitudes and behavior, and how behavior and motivation influence perception and cogni. This produces a feeling of discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance etc. The most famous and widely cited of these theories is cognitive dissonance cdt. However, the dwindling interest in dissonance theory did not have a long run. According to cognitive dissonance theory,an individual experiences a mental discomfort after taking an action that seems to be in con. Jul 07, 2016 chances are good that youre heard of cognitive dissonance theory, but how well do you know the ins and outs of it. Major cognitive dissonance phenomena let us now turn to a brief discussion of major cognitive dissonance phenomena. Introduced by leon festinger in 1957and since that time debated, refined, and debated again by psychologistscognitive 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. Leon festinger, one such noted social psychologist, explained that people, in the course of their daily lives, hold a myriad of cognitions simultaneously. Festinger s 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. A theory of cognitive dissonance by festinger, leon, 19191989.
All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so dont worry about it. These theories are traditionally grouped in one paradigm, that of cognitive consistency, since they all describe an organisation of cognition. The quality of an intelligent tutoring system is measured in terms of the speed and efficiency. However, as several subsequent theorists noted, dissonance theory contained an important element not present in other consistency theories. How cognitive dissonance affects us in crazy political times. Cognitive dissonance theory and research dominated social psychology from the 1950s until the 1970s. Carlsmith is the classic study on reprinted from journal of abnormal and social psychology, 58. Cognitive dissonance, mass media and the enslavement of.
Download cognitive dissonance theory leon festinger 1957 book pdf free download link or read online here in pdf. Cognitive dissonance 1 theory paper cognitive dissonance. The cognitive dissonance experiment is based on the theory of cognitive dissonance proposed by leon festinger in the year 1957. Cognitive dissonance a cognitive theory of motivation. Apr 10, 20 cognitive dissonance challenges a possibility of human evolutioncognitive dissonance cd is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting elements of knowledge. But cognitive dissonance doesnt just apply to minor choices it rears its head in larger, societal matters, too. Cognitive dissonance theory cdt argues that the experience of dissonance or incompatible beliefs and actions is aversive and people are highly motivated to avoid it. Cognitive dissonance explains why people change their attitudes or behaviors when they are introduced to new and contradicting information. This paper discusses the aspects of the cognitive dissonance theory. What are the applications of cognitive dissonance theory. In simple the clash of mind when we have to choose from the choices is can be called cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance challenges a possibility of human evolutioncognitive dissonance cd is a discomfort caused by holding conflicting elements of knowledge. Festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been one of the most influential theories in social psychology jones, 1985.
Even though the effects of cognitive dissonance are everpresent in the political realm, the election of an unconventional, highly unfavorable according to polls candidate have made them even more apparent. Leon festinger leon festinger cognitive dissonance. According to cognitive dissonance theory, there is a tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions i. Cognitive dissonance is the negative feeling that results from conflicting beliefs and behaviors. The theory is somewhat counterintuitive and, in fact, fits into a category of counterintuitive social psychology theories sometimes referred to as actionopinion. A person who experiences internal inconsistency tends to become psychologically uncomfortable and is motivated to reduce the cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is the experience of being psychologically unstable because you are simultaneously holding two conflicting beliefs that can confuse your interpretation of reality. According to this theory, when two actions or ideas are not psychologically consistent with each other, people do all in their power to change. Originally published in the journal of abnormal and social psychology in 1959, cognitive consequences of forced compliance by leon festinger and james carlsmith was the first of numerous studies to corroborate the theory of cognitive dissonance. It is a very different motivation from what psychologist are used to dealing with but, as we shall see, nonetheless powerful. This produces a feeling of mental discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance. This article was originally published in the encyclopedia.
Data suggests that citizens of these countries pose little terroristic threat to americans. Thus, attitude change would be consistent with the recent behavior. Cognitive dissonance theory festinger miller major reference. May 11, 2012 theory of cognitive dissonance the theory of cognitive dissonance has been the subject of interest and study of social psychologists in particular. Theory of cognitive dissonance as it pertains to morality. Selfconsistency a theoretical reinterpretation of the original theory of cognitive dissonance. This work is a clearly stated theory on how humans think, decide, and defend their decisions. The theory of dissonance is here applied to the problem of why partial reward, delay of reward, and effort expenditure during training result in increased resistance to extinction. Beauvois and joule, 19962 cognitive dissonance primarily revolves around the self and a piece of behavior that. Theorist biography leon festinger, 1919 1989, was born to russianjewish immigrants alex festinger and sara solomon festinger in brooklyn, new york. The impact of cognitive dissonance theory continued from the late 1950s to the mid1970s. This article was originally published in the encyclopedia of.
The theory of cognitive dissonance festinger, 1957. In 1954 leon festinger, a brilliant young experimental social psychologist in the process of outlining a new theory of human behavior the theory of cognitive dissonance and his colleagues infiltrated a cult who believed the. The cognitive dissonance theory and its function in public. In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values, or participates in an action that goes against one of these three, and experiences psychological stress because of that. In their efforts to avoid feelings of dissonance, people will avoid hearing views that oppose their own, change their beliefs to match their actions, and seek reassurance after. In a theory of cognitive dissonance 1957, leon festinger proposed that human beings strive for internal psychological consistency to function mentally in the real world. Cognitive dissonance reduction can be seen as an antecedent condition which leads to activity oriented towards dissonance reduction just as hunger leads to activity oriented towards hunger reduction. 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 theory social emotive neuroscience lab. Psychologist leon festinger first described the theory of cognitive dissonance in 1957. Cognitive dissonance theory in social psychology iresearchnet. Cognitive dissonance theory leon festinger 1957 pdf.
Cognitive dissonance theory has been known to play out in several ways. Leon festinger was the first psychologist to study cognitive dissonance around the 1950s, and his works, such as books and experiments, helped to shed light on the ways in which humans act to decrease cognitive dissonance. The following article by leon festinger and james m. While at the university of minnesota, festinger read about a cult that believed that the end of the world was at hand. Cognitive dissonance theory after 50 years of development. Leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been widely recognized for its important and influential concepts in areas of motivation and social psychology. Chances are good that youre heard of cognitive dissonance theory, but how well do you know the ins and outs of it. Dissonance spring is an international small group meeting for researchers interested in cognitive conflict models with a focus on cognitive dissonance theory, to be held in may 2020. Cognitive theories of motivation rely on your thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes to explain your motivation. It is well known that this discomfort is usually resolved by devaluing and discarding a conflicting piece of. The mental clash or tension resulting from the processes of acquiring knowledge or understanding through the senses is called cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance was first introduced through social psychology, but still plays a fundamental role in public relations. Cognitive dissonance and compensatory control cognitive dissonance theories contend that individuals want consistency among their cognitions i. The standard approach in positive political theory posits that action choices are the consequences of preferences.
Cognitive dissonance theory of leon festinger slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. The original theory of cognitive dissonance and its human. With a growing interest in purely cognitive processes such as information processes, the popularity of dissonance theory declined. Cognitive dissonance leon festinger according to cognitive dissonance theory, there is a tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions i. Cognitive dissonance or cognitive consistency theory, as we understand it, does. In an event wherein some of these cognitions clash, an unsettled state of tension occurs and this is called. Social psychologyin particular, cognitive dissonance theorysuggests the opposite.
Leon festinger went to boys high school and acquired a bachelors degree in science at city college, new york in 1939. She attracted a group of followers who left jobs, schools, and spouses and. But even before festinger was the greek fabulist aesop. We will also address the motivation to deny animal sentience according to cognitive dissonance theory. Cd is among the most influential and extensively studied theories in social psychology e. Models of cognitive dissonance in economics treat beliefs as choice variables, on a par with other more standard choice variables, such as consumption and savings. Leon festinger s theory of cognitive dissonance has been widely recognized for its important and influential concepts in areas of motivation and social psychology. A cognitive dissonance approach avidit acharya, stanford university matthew blackwell, harvard university maya sen, harvard university the standard approach in positive political theory posits that action choices are the consequences of preferences. Pros and cons of the cognitive dissonance theory l. This is known as the principle of cognitive consistency. The present experiment sought to demonstrate the presence of cognitive dissonance after making a difficult decision concerning morality.
Take the administrations banning of immigrants from seven majoritymuslim countries. Individuals then change their attitudes to conform more closely with their actions,leading to an important source of attitude formation and change. Higher the discrepancy between cognitions, higher is the magnitude of the dissonance. 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 festinger s comments 30 years later in appendix b of cognitive dissonance progress on a pivotal theory in social. Application and assessment of cognitivedissonance theory in the learning process. Show why other ways to reduce dissonance like avoidance will not work 7. A challenge to human evolutioncognitive dissonance frontiers. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors dissonance, something must change to eliminate the dissonance. 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. Known to others as a study on induced compliance benoit 1, festingers experiment encouraged. Most of them can generally be arranged into four groups. The most important of these theories were the theory of cognitive dissonance festinger, 57, heiders theory of equilibrium and osgood and tannenbaums theory of congruence osgood and tannenbaum, 55. Festinger presented dissonance theory during the heyday of cognitive consistency theories,and he discussed dissonance as a cognitive consistency theory.
Leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has not been adequately researched in its application to morality i. But when you apply it to cultural narratives it can be likened to double think. Application and assessment of cognitivedissonance theory. Festinger presented dissonance theory during the heyday of cognitive consistency theories, and he discussed dissonance as a cognitive consistency theory. Application and assessment of cognitivedissonance theory in. Leon festinger and james carlsmith proposed the term cognitive dissonance which is every individual has his or her festinger, l. According to festinger, cognitive dissonance occurs when peoples thoughts and feelings are inconsistent with their behavior, which results in an uncomfortable, disharmonious feeling. Dissonance arises when elements of cognition do not fit together, motivating a person to reduce or eliminate the dissonance, just as, for example, the presence of hunger leads. Keech, reported receiving messages from extraterrestrial aliens that the world would end in a great flood on a specific date. Cognitivedissonancetheory after50yearsofdevelopment. Instead of positing that any type of cognition can be involved in. 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.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Show that dissonance can hurt selfesteem or increases guilt 5. Mar 17, 2017 according to psychologist leon festingers seminal cognitive dissonance theory, we have a drive that motivates us to reduce psychological discomfort and create consistency among our beliefs. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors dissonance, something must change to eliminate the. On the rationality of cognitive dissonance paris school of. How cognitive dissonance affects us in crazy political. Cognitive dissonance theory festinger, 1957 posits that individuals seek to maintain consistency among multiple cognitions e. If you continue browsing the site, you agree to the use of cookies on this website.
Cognitive dissonance theory, developed by leon festinger 1957, is concerned with the relationships among cognitions. 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. Benoits discussion of persuasion and the characteristics of the cognitive dissonance theory, he stresses different aspects of festingers results that make it worthy of further study but also questions the validity of the experiment altogether. Nov 11, 2009 cognitive dissonance theory of leon festinger slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. Read online cognitive dissonance theory leon festinger 1957 book pdf free download link book now. People hold many different cognitions about their world, e. An introduction to the theory of cognitive dissonance. Introduced by leon festinger in 1957and since that time debated, refined, and debated again by psychologistscognitive dissonance is defined as the aversive state of arousal that occurs when a person holds two or. The advances in the history of cognitive dissonance theory.
557 1509 1527 692 1225 593 696 1318 1294 1318 187 847 596 75 835 140 250 108 545 1048 1213 72 139 230 1171 1397 845 1004 1408 734 776 1439 145 926 698 319 1067 1441 94 70