8- Introduction to Cognitive Dissonance Flashcards
When is dissonance aroused?
Psychological discomfort is caused by inconsistent cognitions
3 main reactions of believers to dissonance
- Belief change
- Stronger commitment to belief
- Proselytism
What is the belief change reaction to dissonance?
People change their mind so they no longer believe the incorrect prophecy and admit that they have been wrong
Who are more likely to change their belief?
People who were on the edge of the belief and who tended to be alone
What is the stronger belief commitment reaction?
No belief change and people held onto the belief, claiming there must have been a mistake for it not to occur
Who were most likely to commit stronger to the belief?
People who were not alone when the belief did not occur
What is the proselytism reaction?
People become more committed to the belief and add new consonant cognitions in order to reduce dissonance
What is Festinger’s definition of cognitive dissonance?
Unpleasant psychological state caused by two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours
Why do people always strive for consistency?
For the sake of our psychological wellbeing
What do we aim for in order to not feel dissonance?
To behave in ways that align with our beliefs or to believe in things that align with our behaviours
What emotions can cognitive dissonance often manifest as?
Guilt and shame
What shows that cognitive dissonance may not always be a conscious feeling?
People may not be aware that they’re feeling cognitive dissonance- may just be aware that they feel discomfort but not necessarily that they’re experiencing cognitive dissonance
What does Heider’s balance theory state?
There will be ‘tension’ if there isn’t a balanced state among attitudes towards people, events, and configurations that they are related
What did Prasad observe?
There were rumours of an earthquake in areas that felt the shock but didn’t have any damage
What was the dissonance that Prasad observed?
The cognition of fear- but there was no visible destruction around so there was nothing to fear
What is provided by fear-arousing rumours?
A cognition consonant with being afraid
What is the process of creating and reducing cognitive dissonance?
Inconsistent cognitions –> dissonance –> desire to reduce the inconsistency –> attitude change
3 methods to reduce cognitive dissonance
Add/remove cognitions, re-evaluate the cognitions, behaviour change
2 ways adding/removing cognitions to reduce dissonance
Adding new consonant cognitions or removing dissonant cognitions
2 ways re-evaluating cognitions reduces dissonance
Increasing importance of consonant cognitions or decreasing importance of dissonant cognitions
How does the confirmation bias reduce cognitive dissonance?
It de-values any conflicting information by causing a tendency to seek out information that confirms our belief
2 ways that a behaviour change can create a reduction of dissonance
Accepting a cognition was wrong and committing to the correct one
Why is a behaviour change the least frequent way of reducing cognitive dissonance?
As it takes a lot of persuasion
What did Bastian et al predict?
A negative association between mind attribution and animal’s consumption
What were Bastian et al’s results?
Perceived mind was negatively association with animal’s consumption and positively with moral concerns
Were Bastian et al’s results evidence of cognitive dissonance?
No
Why did Bastian et al suggest that participants may be motivated to deny the mind of animals?
Due to dissonance felt from killing them
When did participants deny animals mental capacity in Bastian et al’s study 2?
When they were reminded that an animal would be used for food
How was mental capacity to animals increased in Bastian et al’s third study?
When participants expected to consume meat
What did Bastian et al’s findings highlight?
The role of dissonance reduction in facilitating the practice of meat eating and protecting behavioural commitments
