Cognitive dissonance Wikipedia

However, after further thought, we may decide that it does not matter what others think of us and can thus reduce the dissonance. The next step is to identify the cause of inconsistencies in our thoughts. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Understanding your beliefs and values behind the inconsistencies is an opportunity to develop deeper self-knowledge. Cognitive dissonance occurs frequently and to all of us (Harmon-Jones, 2019).

So, when you have two conflicting thoughts at the same time, or when you engage in behavior that conflicts with your beliefs, you are apt to feel a sense of discomfort. And, if you’re like most people, when you are in a state of dissonance, you feel a need to resolve it. Not everyone practices what they preach—and that could trigger poor mental health.

Preventing Cognitive Dissonance in the First Place

Consider if you’re working in a job you hate, suggests Michele Leno, PhD, a Michigan-based licensed psychologist and founder of DML Psychological Services. You have a pit in your stomach every morning, and you’re counting down the hours until it’s time to leave. Living with that dissonance probably means cognitive dissonance treatment you’re fairly stressed out and angry every day. Recognizing and reconciling cognitive dissonance is not always a feel-good experience. Spotting dissonance in our own lives can be painful, embarrassing, and anxiety-inducing, too. And it can be troubling and mentally exhausting to deal with, Curry says.

• Besides tension, you may experience dread and anger, especially if you don’t see a clear solution to your experience of cognitive dissonance.
• In other words, cognitive dissonance works in tandem with addiction.
• Despite the physical and psychological consequences of drinking and taking drugs, individuals who have this disease, view their addictive behaviors differently than those who don’t.
• Although, when something they once believed turns out too good to be true, it conflicts with their pre-existing beliefs about their decision-making abilities.
• Remember that cognitive dissonance is about how you feel inside when you go against what you believe, whether by choice or circumstance.

The important thing is that you evaluate how cognitive dissonance affects you and make changes accordingly. For a person in an energy-vampire-relationship, finding ways to reduce cognitive dissonance is a primary defense mechanism — it’s the path of least resistance that you believe will keep you safe. Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person’s behavior and beliefs do not complement each other or when they hold two contradictory beliefs. It causes a feeling of discomfort that motivates people to try to feel better. We all face cognitive dissonance at times since we’re always learning new things that might demand change in our behavior or belief system.

What Is Cognitive Dissonance? Signs, Symptoms And Triggers

This reduces your guilt and helps you bridge the gap between your love of animals and your diet. You start going to bed earlier and get up with enough time to work out. It’s hard at first, but instead of feeling guilty when you see the gym keychain, you feel proud of yourself. Every time you see the membership tag on your keychain, it reminds you of that pesky truth — that exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle.

Depending on your relationship with the other person, you may be able to effectively self-advocate. In some situations, a mental health professional can help you sort through your thoughts. It can lead to helpful lifestyle changes like regular exercise and smoking cessation. It may encourage you to speak the truth more often, or spend your money in more ethical ways. When you’re pressured to do something you’d rather not, cognitive dissonance exists because of the contradiction between the action and your preference not to perform it. Remember that cognitive dissonance is about how you feel inside when you go against what you believe, whether by choice or circumstance.

What are some effects of cognitive dissonance?

Dissonance makes us feel unsettled, guilty, uncertain, fake, or bad about ourselves. And this feeling isn’t just in our minds; it creates measurable physical tension. And this isn’t a bad thing; discomfort can help us be motivated to change.

They know smoking causes cancer, so the act of continuing to smoke despite the damaging effects on their health causes cognitive dissonance. Another common example of dissonance is experienced by people who join a cult then realize that their beliefs and those of the cult leaders are not in line. Cognitive dissonance is the uncomfortable feeling that results from finding out new information that contradicts what is already known about a situation. This discomfort also happens when someone’s behavior doesn’t match reality or facts.

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the “Everything Psychology Book.” Cognitive dissonance is an internal tool for building self-awareness. In order to live our lives with purpose, clarity, and passion, we need these tools to understand when we’re losing sight of our internal compass. Developing the self-awareness to notice and question the dissonance often resolves it.

Cognitive dissonance leads to the motivation to reduce the dissonance (Festinger, 1957). The stronger the discrepancy between thoughts, the greater the motivation to reduce it (Festinger, 1957). You don’t want to move, but your partner is excited about the promotion and you want them to be happy. Little by little, you begin to consider the pros of living in a small town.

Effects of cognitive dissonance

However, it is detrimental when someone’s beliefs do not line up with their actions and it causes them to feel guilt or shame for doing something wrong. It also prevents people from learning new things because if they make a mistake, then they can’t learn from it. However, it does not affect some situations because it does not cause any harm or good. Cognitive dissonance can have destructive consequences for society when it’s not resolved. When people are in a state of cognitive dissonance, they’re more likely to act out aggressively or lash out at others.

• This way, you can address the dissonance head-on and resolve it quickly.
• In cases like these or for more complex changes, you’ll benefit from additional accountability and support.
• Theoretically, dissonance may contribute to a variety of changes in behavior or beliefs.
• Then, have each group prepare and give a short presentation for the rest of the class on the animal(s) from their group’s article.

You don’t have to be perfect to be moving in a good direction; what matters most is that you’re putting in effort to live the way that you believe you should be. In other words, cognitive dissonance works in tandem with addiction. It completely changes a person’s moral compass, which is why the choice they make to engage in these addictive behaviors is stronger than just willpower.

Decision-making

Typically, when we feel psychological dissonance, it’s because one of these patterns of thought is being challenged. We may develop these biases to avoid discomfort or changing our behavior. Over time, living out of integrity with our values begins to take its toll on our psychological well-being and mental health.

But you also enjoy eating meat, though you know some animals are kept in inhumane conditions before being used for meat. You feel guilty but can’t afford to buy meat from pasture-raised or grass-fed animals. You tell yourself it’s OK since you’re taking care of your health in other ways. You still feel guilty, though, because you know it’s important to be active.