Cognitive dissonance is a theory in social psychology. It refers to the mental conflict that occurs when a person'south behaviors and behavior do not align.

Information technology may too happen when a person holds two beliefs that contradict 1 another.

Cerebral noise causes feelings of unease and tension, and people try to salve this discomfort in different ways. Examples include "explaining things away" or rejecting new data that conflicts with their existing beliefs.

Read on to learn more about cognitive racket and its effects.

a woman looking pensive because of Cognitive dissonance Share on Pinterest
Many people experience feelings of unease and tension with cognitive dissonance.

The psychologist Leon Festinger published his theory of cognitive dissonance in his 1957 book, A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance.

Festinger proposed that people feel discomfort when they hold conflicting beliefs or when their actions contradict their beliefs.

Since and then, cognitive dissonance has become one of the almost influential and researched theories in social psychology.

People volition try to reduce this dissonance to salve the discomfort. The drive to resolve noise is called the "principle of cognitive consistency."

It is important to note that cognitive dissonance is not automated when a person holds opposing beliefs. They must take an sensation of the inconsistency to feel discomfort.

Not anybody experiences cognitive dissonance to the same degree. Some people have a higher tolerance for doubt and inconsistency and may experience less cognitive dissonance than those who require consistency.

Other factors that affect the caste of cerebral dissonance that a person experiences include:

  • The type of beliefs: Beliefs that are more personal atomic number 82 to more meaning racket.
  • The value of the beliefs: Beliefs that people hold in high regard tend to cause greater dissonance.
  • The size of the disparity: A substantial disparity between conflicting and harmonious beliefs will result in more dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance has the immediate effect of causing feelings of discomfort and unease.

Equally people generally take an innate desire to avoid this discomfort, cognitive noise has a pregnant effect on a person's:

  • behaviors
  • thoughts
  • decisions
  • beliefs and attitudes
  • mental health

People experiencing cognitive dissonance may notice that they feel:

  • anxious
  • guilty
  • ashamed

Equally a result, they may:

  • try to hibernate their actions or behavior from others
  • rationalize their deportment or choices continuously
  • shy away from conversations or debates near specific topics
  • avoid learning new information that goes against their existing behavior
  • ignore research, newspaper articles, or doctor'due south advice that causes racket

Fugitive factual information can allow people to go along maintaining behaviors with which they practise not fully agree.

Of class, cognitive noise may prompt some people to modify their beliefs and then that their actions marshal with their beliefs. In this way, it provides people with an opportunity to examine their values and actions and reach cognitive consistency.

As a outcome of cognitive dissonance, many people confront problematic attitudes and actions.

They may brand positive changes in their lives, such as addressing unhealthful eating habits, addiction, or anger issues.

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If a person smokes despite knowing the risk, they may experience cerebral racket.

Situations where cerebral noise can occur include:

  • Smoking despite existence aware of the adverse health furnishings of tobacco use.
  • Choosing to promote a beliefs, such as regular exercise, that a person does non themselves practice. This type of cognitive racket is called hypocrisy.
  • Telling a prevarication despite the person thinking of themselves as honest.
  • Purchasing a new car that is non fuel efficient, despite being environmentally conscious.
  • Eating meat while also thinking of themselves as an animal lover who dislikes the thought of killing animals. Some researchers call this the meat paradox.

People who feel cerebral dissonance can take steps to reduce information technology. They may practise this by:

Rejecting or avoiding conflicting information

Often, people resolve cognitive dissonance past devaluing and discarding alien cognition.

They may limit their exposure to new data that does not align with their existing beliefs — a miracle chosen "confirmation bias."

One example of this is devaluing particular news sources by describing them every bit biased or faux.

Persuading and justifying

Individuals may persuade themselves that no disharmonize exists.

They may seek out back up from others who share similar beliefs or effort to convince others that the new information is inaccurate.

Alternatively, a person may find a fashion to justify behaviors that conflict with their beliefs. For example, someone who smokes despite knowing that it is bad for their wellness may rationalize the behavior on the basis that it helps them socialize with others.

Reconciling the differences

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A person may reconcile differences by giving up eating meat because they dearest animals.

This method of reducing racket may be the most constructive, merely information technology is besides the almost challenging to implement.

It involves a person changing their behaviors so that they are consistent with their other beliefs.

Reconciling the differences between conflicting behavior, or between actions and beliefs, is a form of personal growth.

One example of reconciling differences is when a person stops eating meat because they love animals or dislike the thought of killing them.

Cognitive dissonance affects everyone, and it plays a function in many of a person's daily judgments and decisions.

Although cognitive dissonance may seem similar a negative event, information technology can besides help people alter and grow in positive ways.

Through awareness of conflicting beliefs and actions, people can address their habits and bring their behaviors in line with their values.

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