8- Introduction to Cognitive Dissonance

Question 1

When is dissonance aroused?

Answer 1

Psychological discomfort is caused by inconsistent cognitions

Question 2

3 main reactions of believers to dissonance

Answer 2

1. Belief change
2. Stronger commitment to belief
3. Proselytism

Question 3

What is the belief change reaction to dissonance?

Answer 3

People change their mind so they no longer believe the incorrect prophecy and admit that they have been wrong

Question 4

Who are more likely to change their belief?

Answer 4

People who were on the edge of the belief and who tended to be alone

Question 5

What is the stronger belief commitment reaction?

Answer 5

No belief change and people held onto the belief, claiming there must have been a mistake for it not to occur

Question 6

Who were most likely to commit stronger to the belief?

Answer 6

People who were not alone when the belief did not occur

Question 7

What is the proselytism reaction?

Answer 7

People become more committed to the belief and add new consonant cognitions in order to reduce dissonance

Question 8

What is Festinger’s definition of cognitive dissonance?

Answer 8

Unpleasant psychological state caused by two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours

Question 9

Why do people always strive for consistency?

Answer 9

For the sake of our psychological wellbeing

Question 10

What do we aim for in order to not feel dissonance?

Answer 10

To behave in ways that align with our beliefs or to believe in things that align with our behaviours

Question 11

What emotions can cognitive dissonance often manifest as?

Answer 11

Guilt and shame

Question 12

What shows that cognitive dissonance may not always be a conscious feeling?

Answer 12

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

Question 13

What does Heider’s balance theory state?

Answer 13

There will be ‘tension’ if there isn’t a balanced state among attitudes towards people, events, and configurations that they are related

Question 14

What did Prasad observe?

Answer 14

There were rumours of an earthquake in areas that felt the shock but didn’t have any damage

Question 15

What was the dissonance that Prasad observed?

Answer 15

The cognition of fear- but there was no visible destruction around so there was nothing to fear

Question 16

What is provided by fear-arousing rumours?

Answer 16

A cognition consonant with being afraid

Question 17

What is the process of creating and reducing cognitive dissonance?

Answer 17

Inconsistent cognitions –> dissonance –> desire to reduce the inconsistency –> attitude change

Question 18

3 methods to reduce cognitive dissonance

Answer 18

Add/remove cognitions, re-evaluate the cognitions, behaviour change

Question 19

2 ways adding/removing cognitions to reduce dissonance

Answer 19

Adding new consonant cognitions or removing dissonant cognitions

Question 20

2 ways re-evaluating cognitions reduces dissonance

Answer 20

Increasing importance of consonant cognitions or decreasing importance of dissonant cognitions

Question 21

How does the confirmation bias reduce cognitive dissonance?

Answer 21

It de-values any conflicting information by causing a tendency to seek out information that confirms our belief

Question 22

2 ways that a behaviour change can create a reduction of dissonance

Answer 22

Accepting a cognition was wrong and committing to the correct one

Question 23

Why is a behaviour change the least frequent way of reducing cognitive dissonance?

Answer 23

As it takes a lot of persuasion

Question 24

What did Bastian et al predict?

Answer 24

A negative association between mind attribution and animal’s consumption

Question 25

What were Bastian et al’s results?

Answer 25

Perceived mind was negatively association with animal’s consumption and positively with moral concerns

Question 26

Were Bastian et al’s results evidence of cognitive dissonance?

Answer 26

No

Question 27

Why did Bastian et al suggest that participants may be motivated to deny the mind of animals?

Answer 27

Due to dissonance felt from killing them

Question 28

When did participants deny animals mental capacity in Bastian et al’s study 2?

Answer 28

When they were reminded that an animal would be used for food

Question 29

How was mental capacity to animals increased in Bastian et al’s third study?

Answer 29

When participants expected to consume meat

Question 30

What did Bastian et al’s findings highlight?

Answer 30

The role of dissonance reduction in facilitating the practice of meat eating and protecting behavioural commitments