That slight feeling of discomfort we perceive when noticing this mismatch is called cognitive dissonance. For example, when people smoke (behavior) and they know that smoking causes cancer (cognition), they are in a state of cognitive dissonance. By employing one or more of these referent types, either consciously or unconsciously, employees form a nuanced view of how equitably they are being treated. For example, an individual who previously felt underappreciated at another company might find themselves more acknowledged in their current role.
- For participants who were not asked to lie, and for participants who lied in exchange for $20, they tended to report that the study indeed wasn’t very interesting.
- Therefore, the theory was one of the breakthroughs for research in the psychology field as it revolutionised thinking about human psychological processes.
- When partners rationalize their questionable actions or attitudes, it creates unpredictability and insecurity.
- Importantly, it is the perception of an individual’s and another person’s inputs and outcomes that matter, rather than actual inputs and outcomes.
- Bigger groups have publication departments that churn out newsletters, magazines, journals, CDs, DVDs, podcasts, blogs, apps, and other media.
Social Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Neuroscience, Clinical Brain Mapping
The referent other whose outcomes and inputs are being judged may be either internal or external in nature. Internal comparisons include oneself at an earlier point in time or some accepted (i.e., internalized) standard. External comparisons involve other individuals, typically selected based on convenience or similarity.
Understanding Ethical Dissonance
Once again, it can be challenging to deduce such a relationship because two elements may be indirectly linked. Therefore, researchers have to consider or make a reference to other cognitions before deriving a conclusion (Festinger, 1962). Common methods https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to (re)achieve consistency between one’s attitudes and/or behavior include changing or justifying one or both of them, adding new parts to the cognition, or entirely distorting one’s perception and information about the world (Festinger, 1962).
Cognitive Dissonance Theory (CDT)
Cooper and Axsom report research using experimental designs with college students interested in weight control that reveal support for this dissonance explanation of therapeutic outcome. Only participants in a condition involving high dissonance (expenditure of effort via exercise and choice in this type of effort) showed weight improvement relative to comparison conditions involving different approaches to weight control. cognitive dissonance and addiction In his work on cognitive dissonance, Leon Festinger demonstrated that when there is a conflict between attitude and behavior, individuals are driven to resolve that conflict. The “dissonance” or conflict between what we may believe and what we have actually done creates great tension. When a behavior has been performed and can no longer be changed, we resolve any dissonance by altering our belief about the behavior.
The result suggests that participants may have been motivated to reconsider the information provided by the expert after the therapy session. In addition to adjusting one’s own inputs (i.e., the numerator of the equity equation), P also may adjust his or her own outcomes (i.e., the denominator of the equity equation). If P feels overpaid, he or she may lower his or her own outcomes in an effort to bring his or her outcome-input ratio into line with O’s. P may do this by not accepting a raise or by forsaking an opportunity to move to a larger, more prestigious office, for example. By contrast, if P feels underpaid, he or she may attempt to raise his or her own outcomes in an effort to match O’s outcome-input ratio. P may do this, for example, by seeking and receiving a raise, and/or by taking home company property in an effort to receive a larger share of outcomes withheld.
- Downward comparison means that people look at more disadvantaged members of the group to evaluate their own input and output.
- It was found that underpayment reduced firm value in poorly-governed firms, while overpayment had no effect on firm value (Gyapong, Khaghaany & Ahmed, 2020).
- Self-schema theory (Markus) describes few, core dimensions for efficiently organizing self-understanding.
- In other words, it seems that everyone does experience dissonance from time to time—but what causes dissonance for one person might not for someone else.
- Is it a perception (as “cognitive” suggests), a feeling, or a feeling about a perception?
- The concept of dissonance is predominantly related to the post-decision or post-purchase situation (Oliver, 2009).
Cognitive Dissonance: Festinger’s Theory
- Female participants were informed they would be helping out in a study funded by several manufacturers.
- The major body of knowledge has been generated in the domain of organisational psychology.
- However, in contrast to the theory, respondents with more power in relations than their partner (positive inequity) generally were more satisfied with the relationship and had a greater trust in their current partner (Hall & Knox, 2019).
Consistent with this view, Newcomb developed the similarity principle of attraction, derived from balance theory (above), to explain the clear attraction to others of shared background, attitudes, etc. The most important criterion of behavior control is the demand for dependency and obedience to the group, its ideology, and its leadership. For a “total convert” [9] the group’s dogma determines every aspect of behavior; there is no personal choice involved. Freedom of movement is often limited, and permission demanded before any visit to a non-member. Individualism is discouraged and putting “God” or the group first is the norm (in this case, “God” often proves to be the leader). Prohibited or censured thoughts, feelings and activities (of self or others) must be reported to superiors.
