Cognitive dissonance

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Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding contradictory w:Ideas simultaneously. This could arise from a mis-match between a belief and reality. People are motivated to avoid or resolve cognitive dissonance e.g., by adjusting a belief or attitude - or changing the situation so that it conforms better with a belief.

Class exercise[edit | edit source]

Can you predict the outcome of this research?

Osberg reports that almost all students will intuitively indicate the $20 payment.

Festinger and Carlsmith found that those receiving $1 rated the tasks as more enjoyable than those paid $20. Why? In terms of cognitive dissonance – those who received only $1 presumably had insufficient justification for their behaviour (doing the experiments) which led to dissonance, which in turn produced a change in attitude about the tasks (that they were enjoyable) to relieve the cognitive dissonance and justify participation. Those receiving $20 could more easily justify their participation as being for financial gain, hence there was less cognitive dissonance forcing them towards changing their view about the tasks' enjoyment.

How do you overcome cognitive dissonance?

See also[edit | edit source]