Cognitive Dissonance theory

Cognitive Dissonance Theory


Provides framework for understanding the psychological tension that arises when individuals hold conflicting cognitions

  • Consonant cognitions: beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors that are consistent with each other 

  • Dissonant cognitions: beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors that are contradictory to each other 


  1. Cognition conflict: initial step of recognition of conflicting cognitions

  2. Dissonance experience: discomfort arises from conflicting cognitions 

  3. Dissonance experience

  4. Dissonance reduction strategies: 

  • Changing cognitions: modifying your beliefs to make them consistent 

  • Changing behavior to align with existing beliefs

  • Adding new cognitions: help balance dissonant ones 

  • Creating logical, sometimes inaccurate explanations to justify conflicting cognitions

Resistance to change: when individuals are highly committed to a belief or behavior, it is more difficult for them to change it 

Self Concept: people are less likely to alter cognitions that are central to their sense of self 

Social support: support for existing cognitions can reinforce resistance to change 


Paradigms

  1. Free choice paradigm: making a choice between two attractive alternatives, emphasizing the positive aspects of your chosen selection, then negative aspects of the ones you did not choose 

  2. Induced compliance paradigm: inducing individuals to engage in behavior that is inconsistent with their beliefs or attitudes, typically under some form of external pressure or reward 

  3. Effort justification paradigm: individuals justify the effort they have put into a task/goal, especially when the outcome is less than satisfactory. Ex. doing a sport that you are not passionate about 

  4. Belief Disconfirmation Paradigm: how individuals respond when confronted with contradictory information 

  • When your initial beliefs are stronger, you feel hostile when faced with beliefs that contradict ours

  • When your initial beliefs are weaker, you change your belief when faced with contradictory beliefs 

  1. Selective Exposure Paradigm: how individuals seek out information that supports their existing beliefs and avoid information that conflicts with them. Ie. filter bubbles