User:Scotlynnblair/Cognitive Dissonance

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Origina ls:

cognitive dissonance is the psychological stress experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values.

Magnitude of dissonance

The reduction of the psychological stress of cognitive dissonance is a function of the magnitude of the dissonance caused by the existential inconsistency, between two contradictory beliefs held by the person; or by the contradiction between the person's beliefs and an action he or she has taken. Two factors determine the degree of psychological dissonance caused by two conflicting cognitions or by two conflicting actions:


 * 1) The importance of cognitions: the greater the personal value of the elements, the greater the magnitude of the dissonance in the relation.
 * 2) Ratio of cognitions: the proportion of dissonant-to-consonant elements.

Working :

Magnitude of dissonance

The Magnitude of dissonance deals with the level of discomfort caused to the person. This can be caused by the relationship between two differing internal beliefs, or an action that is incompatible with the beliefs of the person. Two factors determine the degree of psychological dissonance caused by the inconsistency between contradictory beliefs or actions:


 * 1) The importance of cognitions: the greater the personal value of the elements, the greater the magnitude of the dissonance in the relation. When the value of importance of the two dissonant items are high, it is difficult to determine which action or thought is correct. Both have had a place of truth, at least subjectively, in the mind of the person. Therefore, when the ideals or actions now clash, it is difficult for the individual to decide which is more right.
 * 2) Ratio of cognitions: the proportion of dissonant-to-consonant elements. There is a level of discomfort within each person that is acceptable for living. When a person is within that comfort level, the dissonant factors do not interfere with functioning. However, when there is an abundance of dissonant factors and not enough that are in line with each other, we go through a process to regulate and bring the ratio back to an acceptable level. Once the choice has been made to keep one of the dissonant factors, the other is forgotten quickly in order to restore peace of mind.

There will always be some magnitude of dissonance within a person as they go about making decisions due to the changing quantity and quality of knowledge and wisdom that they gain. The magnitude itself is a subjective measurement since the reports are self relayed, and there is no objective way as of yet to get a clear measurement of the level of discomfort.

cognitive dissonance is a relatively new theory claiming that the psychological stress experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values, or participates in an action that goes against one of these three. When two actions or ideas are not psychologically consistent with each other people will do all in their power to change them until they become consistent.

Contradictions to the theory

Because cognitive dissonance is a relatively new theory, there are some that are skeptical of the idea. Charles G. Lord wrote a paper on whether or not the theory of cognitive dissonance was not tested enough and if it was a mistake to accept it into theory. He claimed that the theorist did not take into account all the factors and came to a conclusion without looking at all the angles. However, even with this contradiction, Cognitive dissonance is still accepted as the most likely theory that we have to date.

Festinger, L. (1962). A theory of cognitive dissonance (Vol. 2). Stanford university press.

https://www.panarchy.org/festinger/dissonance.html