He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology. According to Festinger, there are a few ways that a cognitive dissonance treatment person might resolve this dissonance. Get started by speaking with one of our compassionate treatment specialists. People with addiction tend to feel alone, and the one thing that makes them feel whole is to drink and take drugs.

Reducing the Importance of the Conflicting Belief

There are three common approaches to reduce the importance of the cognitions. Many decades ago, I argued that cognitive dissonance might be the underlying mechanism behind successful psychotherapy, regardless of the type Halfway house of therapy being offered (Cooper, 1980). From psychoanalytic approaches to cognitive and behavioral interventions, clients find themselves in a situation much like participants in Aronson & Mills’ (1959) classic effort justification experiment. Aronson & Mills’ participants came to like a goal they were trying to achieve as a function of the amount of effort they expended to achieve the goal. These freely chosen effortful behaviors lead to dissonance and, following Aronson & Mills’ (1959), can lead to increased value of the goal that the clients are trying to achieve.

• It doesn’t just influence how you feel; it also motivates you to take action to reduce feelings of discomfort.
• However, when it’s intense or left unresolved, psychological discomfort can begin to affect your sense of self and quality of life.
• However, sometimes we notice that the consequences of our behavior are unwanted or negative.
• Inconsistencies in your thoughts and actions trigger discomfort and emotions like anger, irritation, anxiety, guilt, and regret.

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The degree of dissonance experienced can depend on a few different factors. Among them are how highly a particular belief is valued and the degree to which the beliefs are inconsistent. The field of social psychology has always had equal interest in theoretical advancement and practical applications of its theories. A premature application of theory into practice, however, can be risky for both uses, as such an application can lead to incorrect application of the theory because the theory was not sufficiently researched before it is applied. On the other hand, exclusive interest in theory building risks an indulgence on nuance while missing the opportunity to demonstrate the usefulness of our theoretical understanding.

THE PRESENT AND FUTURE OF COGNITIVE DISSONANCE: From theory to application and back

Physical activity helps release tension and can offer a much-needed mood boost when you’re feeling stressed and anxious. Try to build an exercise routine that you genuinely enjoy so you’re more likely to stick with it. Turn to friends who reassure you that you don’t have to do favors for people who treat you poorly. Or research some of the benefits of eating a little ice cream (it’s a good source of calcium and vitamins A and D).

• It is similar to why a person drinks and takes drugs to cope and numb themselves from the discomfort or pain they are feeling.
• Once a choice has been made, however, people need to find a way to reduce these feelings of discomfort.
• We offer a range of evidence-based programs, including Mental Health Therapy Programs, Family Therapy Program, and Group Therapy Program, to help individuals identify and resolve conflicts, improve mental clarity, and enhance well-being.
• In a subsequent analysis, Stone & Cooper (2001) challenged Thibodeau & Aronson’s analysis of hypocrisy.
• The field of social psychology has always had equal interest in theoretical advancement and practical applications of its theories.

Can therapy help resolve cognitive dissonance?

• On a big-picture level, we have cognitive dissonance to thank for huge advancements within society.
• Some theories attempt to expand on, challenge, or reinterpret Festinger’s original proposal.
• As cognizant human beings, we assess the results of our actions, including the valence.
• You may experience cognitive dissonance in any aspect of your life, including your health, spending habits, political beliefs, or religious beliefs.
• Adjusting your behavior or your expectations of your friends might help lessen conflict down the line.

However, new information such as “research has not proved definitely that smoking causes lung cancer” may reduce the dissonance. This is probably because dissonance would be caused if we spent a great effort to achieve something and then evaluated it negatively. Being paid only $1 is not sufficient incentive for lying and so those who were paid $1 experienced dissonance. They could only overcome that dissonance by coming to believe that the tasks really were interesting and enjoyable. Being paid $20 provides a reason for turning pegs, and there is, therefore, no dissonance.

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Becoming aware of how conflicting beliefs impact the decision-making process is a great way to improve your ability to make faster and more accurate choices. Sometimes, the ways that people resolve cognitive dissonance contribute to unhealthy behaviors or poor decisions. To deal with the feelings of discomfort then, they might find some way of rationalizing the conflicting cognition. For instance, they may justify their sedentary behavior by saying that their other healthy behaviors—like eating sensibly and occasionally exercising—make up for their largely sedentary lifestyle. Sometimes learning new information can lead to feelings of cognitive dissonance.

• Cognitive dissonance is the unpleasant mental state that may result if someone really does have certain beliefs but thinks or acts in a way that contradicts them.
• If we put effort into a task that we have chosen to carry out, and the task turns out badly, we experience dissonance.
• Some individuals may find it difficult to confront and change long-held beliefs, even when they recognize the inconsistency.
• Festinger wondered how people would react if they noticed discrepancies with their past experience.
• The prediction that people can experience dissonance vicariously is based on a combination of dissonance theory with social identity theory (McKimmie, 2015; Tajfel, 1970; Tajfel & Turner, 1986; Hogg, 2001).

The social group perspective enables us to consider how people feel dissonance vicariously on behalf of their fellow group member. Cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger) suggests we https://ecosoberhouse.com/ all strive to keep harmony amongst our beliefs and attitudes, and introduces the ‘Principle of Cognitive Consistency’. However, the strong drive to maintain cognitive consistency can result in irrational and unhelpful (‘maladaptive’) behaviour. As individuals we adopt a range of strategies to reduce cognitive dissonance and to increase harmony and balance.