Dissonance reduction

Definition

Dissonance reduction refers to the psychological strategies individuals use to alleviate the discomfort or tension caused by cognitive dissonance, which occurs when a person holds conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. This process is crucial in understanding how people adjust their beliefs and behaviors to maintain internal consistency and reduce feelings of unease.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. People often employ strategies such as changing their beliefs, minimizing the importance of the conflicting belief, or adding new beliefs to create harmony.
2. Cognitive dissonance theory was first introduced by Leon Festinger in 1957, highlighting how people strive for internal consistency.
3. The motivation to reduce dissonance can lead to attitude change, making individuals more likely to adopt new beliefs that align with their actions.
4. Dissonance reduction is not always a conscious process; people may not be aware that they are engaging in these strategies.
5. Situations that provoke strong feelings of dissonance often lead to more significant changes in attitudes and behaviors as individuals seek relief from discomfort.

Review Questions

• How do individuals typically respond to cognitive dissonance, and what are some common strategies for dissonance reduction?
  • Individuals typically respond to cognitive dissonance by employing various strategies for dissonance reduction. Common approaches include changing one of the conflicting beliefs or attitudes, downplaying the significance of the conflict, or introducing new beliefs that reconcile the contradictions. For example, if someone feels bad about smoking but also smokes regularly, they might either quit smoking (change behavior), convince themselves that smoking is not that harmful (minimize importance), or justify their behavior by saying it helps them relax (add new beliefs).
• Discuss how the concept of dissonance reduction can explain changes in attitudes following an individual's actions.
  • Dissonance reduction provides insight into how people's attitudes can shift after they engage in behaviors that conflict with their pre-existing beliefs. When an individual's action contradicts their belief system, they experience discomfort. To alleviate this tension, they might change their attitudes to align better with their actions. For instance, if someone who values health continues to eat junk food, they might change their attitude about unhealthy eating by convincing themselves that it's acceptable occasionally. This adjustment helps them reduce the dissonance between their behavior and their values.
• Evaluate the implications of dissonance reduction in real-world scenarios, including its potential impact on decision-making and behavior.
  • The implications of dissonance reduction are significant in real-world scenarios, particularly regarding decision-making and behavior. Individuals often justify their choices after making decisions to avoid regret and maintain self-esteem. For instance, a person who purchases an expensive car may focus on its positive attributes while downplaying its costs to feel better about their choice. This psychological mechanism can shape consumer behavior and influence long-term satisfaction with decisions. Moreover, understanding dissonance reduction can aid interventions aimed at promoting healthier behaviors by addressing the inconsistencies between beliefs and actions.

Related terms

cognitive dissonance: A psychological phenomenon where an individual experiences discomfort due to holding two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes.

attitude change: The process through which a person's evaluations, feelings, or behaviors toward a particular object, person, or issue shift over time, often in response to new information or experiences.

justification: The cognitive process of rationalizing or providing reasons for an action or belief to reduce dissonance and restore a sense of coherence.