Describe how cognitive dissonance can produce changes in attitudes and behaviors.
Predict the outcome of a situation where cognitive dissonance is present.
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1. People want to believe that their actions flow from their attitudes and beliefs and are consistent with them. According to social psychologist Leon Festinger, cognitive dissonance is the uncomfortable tension we feel when our actions don't match our attitudes.
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2. Because we want our behavior to be consistent with our attitudes, we generally try to reduce the cognitive dissonance by changing our behavior. That works well in some cases. For example, if we believe that exercise is good for us, but never actually find time to exercise, this mismatch creates dissonance. We can get rid of the dissonance by starting an exercise program.
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3. If it is difficult or impossible to change our behavior, cognitive dissonance theory predicts that our attitudes will probably change—becoming more consistent with our behavior! If a smoker can’t change her behavior (by quitting smoking), she can reduce the dissonance by softening her attitudes against smoking.
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4. The point to remember: Our attitudes influence our behavior, but our behavior also influences our attitudes.
Practice 1: Attitudes Predict Actions
Select one of the buttons to make your prediction about Larissa’s behavior. Then select the NEXT button and move to Practice 2.
People like to believe that their attitudes are consistent with their actions. For example, if you have a favorable attitude toward a particular political candidate, you are more likely to vote for that person. Let's try to apply that principle to the case of Larissa.
Larissa believes that it is important to provide assistance to those who are less fortunate in her community. A friend invites her to help serve food to homeless people at a local soup kitchen. What will Larissa do?
Yes, that's the most likely result. Because Larissa believes that it is important to help those in need, she will probably follow through on that belief and volunteer at the soup kitchen. Attitudes influence actions.
Afterward, she can say to herself, "I believe in helping poor people" and "I just did something to help poor people." Those two thoughts (or cognitions) fit together nicely, and Larissa will probably feel good about herself.
No, Larissa is not likely to refuse this request. Because Larissa believes that it is important to help those in need, she will probably follow through on that belief and volunteer at the soup kitchen. Attitudes influence actions.
Afterward, she can say to herself, "I believe in helping poor people" and "I just did something to help poor people." Those two thoughts (or cognitions) fit together nicely, and Larissa will probably feel good about herself.
Practice 2: Changing Behavior
Select one of the buttons to make your prediction about James. Then select the NEXT button and move to Practice 3.
What happens when people's actions are not consistent with their attitudes? According to Leon Festinger, this produces a type of internal tension he called cognitive dissonance. Because the tension is uncomfortable, people are motivated to do something to reduce the dissonance. Let's try to apply that principle to the case of James.
James smokes a pack of cigarettes a day. Recently he has become convinced that the cigarettes are damaging his health. What will he do?
It's possible that James will quit. If James did manage to quit, his cognitions would be, "Smoking is bad for my health" and "I used to smoke, but now I quit." These cognitions mesh nicely, and James would feel satisfied with himself
But if James could not quit smoking, the only way he could reduce the cognitive dissonance would be to change his attitude about the health risks of smoking!
It is difficult to give up smoking. If James could not quit, the only way he could reduce the cognitive dissonance would be to change his attitude about the health risks of smoking!
If James did manage to quit, his cognitions would be, “Smoking is bad for my health” and “I used to smoke, but now I quit.” These cognitions mesh nicely, and James would feel satisfied with himself.
Practice 3: Changing Attitudes
Select one of the buttons to make your prediction about Fiona. Then select the “Next step” button to move through the case.
Fiona believes that the tuition at her university is too expensive. She volunteers as a participant in a psychology experiment, and is paid $2 to write an essay supporting the need for a tuition increase. What will happen to Fiona's attitude about the tuition?
No, the research on cognitive dissonance suggests that Fiona's attitude about the tuition will actually become more positive or favorable as a result of writing that essay.
How could that be? Select the “Next step” button to view the sequence of events.
Yes! Surprisingly, the research on cognitive dissonance suggests that Fiona's attitude about the tuition will actually become more positive or favorable as a result of writing that essay.
How could that be? Select the “Next step” button to view the sequence of events.
Quiz 1
Select the best option for each question. Then select the CHECK ANSWER button.
Quiz 2
Indicate your prediction by selecting the button in front of the statement you believe is True. Then select the CHECK ANSWER button.