Cognitive Dissonance and Justification in Social Psychology

These flashcards cover key concepts related to cognitive dissonance, coping strategies, belief systems, and dehumanization as discussed in the lecture.

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychological phenomenon where individuals experience discomfort due to inconsistencies between their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.

Coping Mechanisms

Strategies that individuals employ to manage dissonance, such as changing behaviors or attitudes, reframing situations, or justifying actions.

Belief in a Just World

The belief that the world is fundamentally fair, leading people to rationalize injustices and potentially blame victims for their misfortunes.

Dehumanization

The process of portraying others as less than human, often used to justify violence against them.

Self-justification

The act of rationalizing one's decisions or actions in order to maintain a positive self-image.

Victim-blaming

The tendency to hold victims responsible for the harm they experience, often justified by belief in a just world.

Festinger & Carlsmith Study

A famous experiment demonstrating cognitive dissonance, where participants who were paid $1 to lie about enjoying a boring task changed their attitude to align with their behavior.

Reframing Behavior

A coping mechanism in which individuals reinterpret their actions to reduce dissonance, e.g., comparing one behavior to a more serious offense.

Consonant Cognitions

Thoughts that align with and support current beliefs, which can be added to reduce dissonance.

Negative Emotion from Dissonance

The uncomfortable feeling that arises from holding conflicting beliefs or engaging in contradictory behaviors.