Cognitive Dissonance Theory (CDT) posits that cognitive inconsistencies can lead to a motivational state characterized by emotional distress, which can motivate a person to resolve the discomfort by changing one belief to reduce the perceived conflict.
Leon Festinger presented the theory of Cognitive Dissonance in 1957.
Vadis and Bran criticized CDT (2019). One criticism is the imprecise use of the concept dissonance. Dissonance is in the name of the theory and has referred to the situation that produces or triggers the inconsistency and the resulting experience of conflict. The authors note that much research has focused on attitude and behavior change as regulation strategies to reduce a state of dissonance. See the article for more details.
For a look at research trends, see Cooper (2019).
Examples of Regulating Dissonance
Distorting self-appraisal of alcohol dependence to view oneself as a social drinker.
Distorting one's miserable relationship by focusing only on the pleasant moments.
Distorting the quality of a purchase after a difficult decision to favor the one finally selected.
References
Cooper, J. (2019). Cognitive dissonance: Where we’ve been and where we’re going. International Review of Social Psychology, 32(1), Article 7. https://doi.org/10.5334/irsp.277Festinger L. (1957). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Evanston, IL: Row, Peterson and Company. Reedited in 1962/1985 at Stanford University Press.
Vaidis, D. C., & Bran, A. (2019). Respectable Challenges to Respectable Theory: Cognitive Dissonance Theory Requires Conceptualization Clarification and Operational Tools. Frontiers in psychology, 10, 1189. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01189
[Cite this post]
Sutton, G. W. (2022, January 26). Cognitive dissonance theory. PSYCHOLOGY Concepts and Theories. Retrieved from https://suttonpsychology.blogspot.com/2022/01/cognitive-dissonance.html
Books - Examples on AMAZON
A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance by Leon Festinger (1957)
Cognitive Dissonance: Reexamining a Pivotal Theory in Psychology by Eddie Harmon-Jones (2019)
Geoffrey W. Sutton, PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology. He retired from a clinical practice and was credentialed in clinical neuropsychology and psychopharmacology. His website is www.suttong.com
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