Cognitive Dissonance Study Notes
I Hate Marbles: Cognitive Dissonance Study Notes
Overview of Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Definition: Cognitive dissonance occurs when two cognitions (beliefs, attitudes) conflict, or when individuals behave in ways that are inconsistent with their self-concept.
Origin: The theory of cognitive dissonance was introduced by Leon Festinger in 1957 and is considered one of the most significant theories in social psychology.
Key Experiments and Findings
Comer & Laird (1975) Study
Experiment: Participants were asked to either guess the weight of objects or eat a worm.
Independent Variable (IV): Participants believed they would have to eat a worm or guess the weights of various items.
Procedure: Participants were left alone for 10 minutes and informed that they could freely choose what to do afterward.
Dependent Variable (DV): The percentage of participants who chose to eat the worm after being told they had the option to choose.
Finding: The results showed a certain percentage (not specified) of participants who chose to eat the worm, leading to questions about the reasons behind their choices.
Reasons for Disgusting Choices
Participants who chose to eat something gross likely engaged in cognitive reasoning to justify their behavior, addressing the discomfort associated with their actions.
Explanation of Cognitive Dissonance
Basis of Cognitive Dissonance: Humans have an inherent desire to maintain a positive view of themselves as good, moral, and consistent individuals. Conflict between beliefs or unfavorable self-perception leads to discomfort.
Motivation to Resolve Disscomfort: Individuals are motivated to resolve cognitive dissonance to restore their self-concept and comfort.
Mechanism of Cognitive Dissonance
Types of Cognitions: Cognitions can be dissonant (in conflict) or consonant (consistent).
Emotional Response: Dissonant cognitions cause negative emotional arousal that individuals are motivated to alleviate.
Methods of Resolution: Individuals may:
Change their behavior to align with their beliefs.
Change their beliefs to justify their behavior.
Add consonant cognitions that lessen the conflict.
Examples of Dissonance
Example 1: A student believes they are good but has cheated on an exam.
Example 2: A person wants to be healthy but still visits a tanning salon.
Methods to Reduce Dissonance
Changing Behavior: For instance, deciding not to cheat again or stop tanning.
Changing Cognitions: Minimizing the significance of cheating or tanning regarding health.
Adding New Cognitions: Affirming past integrity in other contexts or rationalizing the effects of spending time in the sun.
Contextualizing Cognitive Dissonance through Questions
Identifying the source of dissonance in personal experiences can effectively illustrate the theory's manifestation in real-life scenarios.
Post-Decisional Regret
Definition
Post-Decisional Regret: The uncomfortable feeling that arises after making a difficult decision, realizing that an alternative could have been more favorable.
Dissonance after Decision Making
After making a choice, individuals may wish to downplay the attractiveness of the rejected option and enhance positive perceptions of the chosen one.
Spreading of Alternatives: A psychological phenomenon where individuals view the chosen option more favorably and the rejected option less favorably after making a decision.
Brehm (1956) Study on Consumer Choices
IV: Participants rated household items (blender vs. mixing spoon; blender vs. electric iron).
DV: Ratings of desirability before and after the choice.
Findings: Participants who made a difficult choice rated their chosen item more positively after the choice and the alternative less favorably, illustrating post-decisional regret and dissonance reduction.
Effort Justification
Definition
Effort Justification: The phenomenon in which individuals justify the effort put into achieving a goal, especially when that goal may not meet their original expectations.
Aronson and Mills (1959) Study
IV: Method of joining a desirable group (embarrassing vs. mild initiation).
DV: How much participants liked the discussion group based on initiation severity.
Findings: Women who experienced severe initiation justified their effort by deeming the group more valuable, exemplifying effort justification.
Insufficient Justification
Definition
Occurs when individuals perform an action but lack sufficient reason or justification for it, leading to cognitive dissonance.
Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) Study
Procedure: Participants completed a boring task and were asked to persuade others it was enjoyable for a small or large fee.
Results: Those paid $1 changed their attitude towards the task more significantly than those paid $20, demonstrating insufficient justification.
Counter-attitudinal Behavior
Definition
The process where an individual’s actions contradict their beliefs or attitudes, necessitating a change in those beliefs to reduce dissonance.
The Ben Franklin Effect
Concept: Doing a favor for someone you dislike may change your feelings about them, as you rationalize the behavior and modify your attitude.
Study by Jecker & Landy (1969) demonstrated that participants who performed favors for an experimenter reported liking the experimenter more than those who did not perform favors.
Moral and Immoral Behavior
Moral Dilemma
Definition: A situation where individuals face a significant decision regarding right or wrong, impacting self-esteem.
Resolving Dissonance Post-Cheating
Cheating can lead to cognitive dissonance. The individual may justify their actions or change their perception of cheating to alleviate discomfort.
Belief Disconfirmation
Definition
This occurs when individuals hold strong beliefs that are contradicted by new evidence. They may resolve dissonance through denial or rationalization.
Festinger et al (1956) Study
Cult Study: Members of a UFO cult intensified their beliefs after a predicted apocalypse failed to materialize, reinforcing their commitment as a way of resolving dissonance.
Self-Affirmation Theory
When faced with cognitive dissonance, individuals can reaffirm their sense of self-worth through other positive affirmations without needing to change their behaviors or attitudes.
Studies show self-affirmation can reduce dissonance experienced during inconsistency.
Cultural Aspects of Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is a universal phenomenon; however, its expression may vary across different cultures.
Research by Heine & Lehman (1997) demonstrated different responses to dissonance based on cultural backgrounds, highlighting the collective versus individualistic tendencies in cognition and attitude.
Self-Esteem
Definition
Refers to the overall evaluation of oneself as reflecting a positive, negative, or neutral perception. It impacts emotional well-being and life choices.
Relationship with Cognitive Dissonance
High self-esteem may lead to greater resilience against cognitive dissonance, while low self-esteem may increase sensitivity to social feedback and dissonance.
Conclusion
Understanding cognitive dissonance provides insights into why people rationalize behavior and shift attitudes that conflict with their beliefs. Recognizing these processes can contribute to better self-awareness and personal development.