Cognitive Dissonance Processes Flashcards
What are theories of cognitive consistency?
Importance of facial systems - different kinds of cognitive elements are part of a system, and have a drive to arrive at some kind of harmony within these systems.
Balance theory - based on the idea that we like people that share some attitudes we do. If imbalance between elements, is a process where balance is achieved (sometimes through attitude change).
What is Leon Festinger’s (1957) theory of cognitive dissonance?
Didn’t like balance theory. Based on the idea that when cognitive elements do not fit together, they stand in a dissonant relationship. If someone is in a place of dissonance, there are pressures on the person to reduce/eliminate this.
How does being in a state of dissonance make a person feel?
When dealing with conflicting cognitions, this leads to a state of dissonance. This is a state of tension within the person, and therefore they are motivated to reduce this dissonance.
What are ways to reduce/eliminate dissonance?
Change attitude or behaviour, or add consonant element (e.g. a reason for doing that behaviour).
What is an example of Festinger’s cognitive dissonance theory?
Festinger and Carlsmith (1957). Participants take part in a ‘measures of performance’ study. Carry out dull tasks for an hour. Asked to tell next new participants that they will really enjoy the task. Either paid $1 or $20 to do this. Later, participants is asked how much he really liked the task. Those paid $1 rate as more enjoyment. Reason for this - change attitude toward task to help resolve dissonance.
What is the grasshopper experiment?
Zimbardo, Heisenberg, Fireston & Levy (1965). Experimenter attractiveness manipulated. Participants induced to eat grasshoppers. Dissonance created when the experimenter was unattractive.
What is effort justification?
Aronson and Mills, 1959. Female participants, invited to join a women’s discussion group. In order to join group, must pass a screening test: control task, mild initiation (read slightly taboo paragraph), or severe initiation (very taboo paragraph). Asked how did they enjoy the discussion. Enjoyment much higher in those who have been through severe initation – in a state of dissonance because went through severe initiation and discussion is not good, therefore rated as enjoyable to remove dissonance.
What are alternative explanations?
Self concept involvement - dissonance arises where there is a threat to the self-concept.
Impression management - are participants trying create an impression of attitude-behaviour consistency.
Self-perception theory - participants infer their attitudes from their behaviour.
Does dissonance lead to arousal?
Zanna and Cooper (1974). Study on ‘memory processes’. Memory task. Reported tension and attitudes towards banning ‘inflammatory speakers’ from campus. Manipulated choice (high choice condition - decide if you would like to participate, low choice condition - told what they will be asked to do).
