Cognitive Dissonance Flashcards
What is cognitive dissonance?
An unpleasant state of tension that exists when a person has two or more cognitions that are inconsistent or ‘do not fit together’.
How do individuals try to reduce cognitive dissonance?
They will try to reduce dissonance by changing one or more of the inconsistent cognitions.
- This is done by looking for information to bolster one side.
What are the steps necessary for cognitive dissonance after action?
- The action must be perceived as inconsistent.
- The individual must take personal responsibility.
- They must experience uncomfortable physiological arousal.
- They must attribute the arousal to the inconsistency between the attitude and action.
What are the 3 routes used to attempt to reduce anxiety caused by cognitive dissonance?
- Altering one or more of the inconsistent beliefs.
- Seeking more info to support one side.
- By derogating the source of one of your cognitions.
What are the different types of dissonance?
- Induced compliance.
- Effort justification.
What is induced compliance?
The inconsistency experienced when encouraged to act against one’s beliefs.
- This must be a result of subtle pressure.
What is effort justification?
Voluntarily choosing between alternatives brings about dissonance.
Once chosen, the selected option will become more favourably perceived, the rejected choice will become negatively viewed.
What does extraversion suggest in response to dissonance?
Those who are more extroverted experience less discomfort when faced with contradictory group beliefs and less attitude change.
What role does attributional complexity play in response to dissonance?
High attributional complexity showed loss post-test dissonance attitude change.
What did Hickman find?
Correlation does not equal causation.
What is the meat paradox?
How can individuals morally care for animals and wish them no harm yet simultaneously eat them as food?
What has the Cognitive Dissonance Theory helped to explain?
- People’s feelings of regret and changes in attitudes after a decision.
- Self-exposure to information and search for information.
- Reasons that people seek social support for their beliefs.
- Attitude changes when an individual says or acts uncharacteristically.
What is dissonance also referred as?
Hypocrisy (or induced hypocrisy).
In this context, hypocrisy is a combination of what?
- Advocating a position that you support.
- Being made mindful of your failure to act in accordance with the position you just advocated.
What are the areas of application regarding the cognitive dissonance theory?
- Pro-social behaviour (donations for homeless people).
- The environment (Water conservation).
- Physical health (road safety, smoking).
- Mental health (reducing phobias).
