predict how discrepancies between attitudes and behaviours can lead to cognitive dissonance (Leon Festinger 1957)

CD

we all have inner drive to hold attitudes and beliefs in harmony and avoid disharmony - dissonance

what does CD feel like

unpleasant feeling when action doesn’t align with belief

Reasons for CD

forced compliance, decision making, effort

forced compliance

forced to do something you don’t want to

action doesn’t match attituded

decision making

experience CD when making choice bc usually trade-off/compromise

effort

place value when put effort into things - if outcome not desired experience CD

act like we love it when our attitude is we don’t

effort justification

discomfort experienced makes person go to considerable effort to justify and reduce CD

types of effort justification

attitude change, behaviour change, develop new rationale

change attitude - effort justification

knows smoking bad but still smokes = smoking isn’t actually bad for me

change behaviour - effort justification

knows smoking bad but still smokes = stop smoking

develop new rationale - effort justification

knows smoking bad but still smokes = exercise so okay, better to live for today