Donna | What is Cognitive Dissonance Theory? @DonnaIRL | Uploaded August 2016 | Updated October 2024, 6 days ago.
Cognitive Dissonance Theory theorized by Leon Festinger states when we have two beliefs, actions, or sentiments that conflict with one another, we go through an aversive emotional state (or dissonance). As a result we try to get rid of the dissonance by having our beliefs align again.
Basically, as humans we love consistency. When our thoughts aren’t consistent, cognitive dissonance theory states we do whatever we can to restore consistency. We do this in 3 ways. For example, I am eating chips and my goal is to be healthy. Those 2 beliefs or actions conflict with each other. In order to be healthy, I shouldn’t have junk food. Yet, I’m still eating it because it taste good.
The first way we restore consistency according to cognitive dissonance theory is to change our behavior. I can either stop eating the chips to become healthier or I can remove “being healthy” as a goal so I can continue eating chips.
The second way we can do it is to reduce the importance of one of the beliefs. I can change my definition of healthy. “By healthy, I mean being more active rather than changing my dietary habits”. I can also think, “chips aren’t that bad. There are other foods that are worse”.
The third way to resolve cognitive dissonance is to gather information that outweighs the dissonance. I would gather all the benefits to eating chips and use that to convince myself that eating chips actually isn’t that unhealthy.
Cognitive Dissonance Theory Definition - 0:06
Leon Festinger - 0:18
Cognitive Dissonance Examples - 0:34
Examples of Cognitive Dissonance in Real Life - 1:07
Carlsmith and Festinger 1959 - 2:30
Peg Study - 2:35
Last Video: youtube.com/watch?v=4Pg7lrBTDpU
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Article: simplypsychology.org/cognitive-dissonance.html
Cognitive Dissonance Theory theorized by Leon Festinger states when we have two beliefs, actions, or sentiments that conflict with one another, we go through an aversive emotional state (or dissonance). As a result we try to get rid of the dissonance by having our beliefs align again.
Basically, as humans we love consistency. When our thoughts aren’t consistent, cognitive dissonance theory states we do whatever we can to restore consistency. We do this in 3 ways. For example, I am eating chips and my goal is to be healthy. Those 2 beliefs or actions conflict with each other. In order to be healthy, I shouldn’t have junk food. Yet, I’m still eating it because it taste good.
The first way we restore consistency according to cognitive dissonance theory is to change our behavior. I can either stop eating the chips to become healthier or I can remove “being healthy” as a goal so I can continue eating chips.
The second way we can do it is to reduce the importance of one of the beliefs. I can change my definition of healthy. “By healthy, I mean being more active rather than changing my dietary habits”. I can also think, “chips aren’t that bad. There are other foods that are worse”.
The third way to resolve cognitive dissonance is to gather information that outweighs the dissonance. I would gather all the benefits to eating chips and use that to convince myself that eating chips actually isn’t that unhealthy.
Cognitive Dissonance Theory Definition - 0:06
Leon Festinger - 0:18
Cognitive Dissonance Examples - 0:34
Examples of Cognitive Dissonance in Real Life - 1:07
Carlsmith and Festinger 1959 - 2:30
Peg Study - 2:35
Last Video: youtube.com/watch?v=4Pg7lrBTDpU
Subscribe: youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=designingdonna
Twitter: twitter.com/designingdonna
Instagram: instagram.com/psychirl
Article: simplypsychology.org/cognitive-dissonance.html
