Define Cognitive Dissonance

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The Answer is Cognitive dissonance is a psychological term that refers to the discomfort or tension that arises from holding two conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors. When individuals experience cognitive dissonance, they may feel a sense of mental discomfort and seek to reduce this discomfort by either changing their beliefs or behaviors, or by justifying their conflicting beliefs or behaviors.

Aronson and Mills' (1959) study on cognitive dissonance involved an initiation process, where participants were asked to perform a series of embarrassing and tedious tasks in order to join a group. The independent variable in their study was the level of effort required for initiation, while the dependent variable was the participants' attitudes towards the group. The researchers found that participants who had to endure a more difficult initiation process reported more positive attitudes towards the group, compared to those who had an easier initiation process. This demonstrated how individuals may experience cognitive dissonance by justifying their effort and discomfort by convincing themselves that the group must be worthwhile in order to justify their actions.

One real-world example of cognitive dissonance could be a person who is aware of the negative environmental impact of their consumer habits, such as using single-use plastics or driving a gas-guzzling car, but continues to engage in these behaviors. This individual may experience cognitive dissonance as they hold the conflicting beliefs of caring about the environment and yet engaging in environmentally harmful behaviors.

To reduce cognitive dissonance in this situation, the individual could take steps to align their behaviors with their beliefs, such as using reusable alternatives to single-use plastics or opting for more environmentally friendly transportation options. By taking action to reduce their environmental impact, the individual can reduce the mental discomfort associated with cognitive dissonance.

Define Cognitive Dissonance

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