Cognitive Dissonance by definition is the uncomfortable state that arises because of discrepancy between an attitude and behavior or between two attitudes. The theory of cognitive dissonance was first studied by Festinger and Carlsmith in 1959, and has been studied and further researched by many other psychologists. How does Cognitive Dissonance work.? How did it help the students of the University of Nebraska at Kearny to reduce their beliefs in paranormal activity, and what where the variables that changed there attitudes? .
In the world today people usually stick to there opinions and beliefs and not tend to sway from them. If people ever sway from their attitudes and beliefs of something, it is usually because of a conflict in the belief. There must be a conflict to discord a certain belief. It will only happen if someone knows they have a choice, and can actually be swayed to change their attitude. "Dissonance can effectively be strengthened by having more dissonant beliefs, and by having more importance for each belief (Kearsley, 2002)." .
"Dissonance is made best when the two alternatives are equally attractive (Kearsley, 2002)". Dissonance results when an individual must choose between attitudes and behaviors that are contradictory (Kearsley, 2002)." Dissonance theory is.
different from other behavioral theories, because attitude change is greater after incentive or reinforcement is given. So, basically cognitive dissonance happens when someone must make a decision between certain attitudes and behaviors that contradict each other.
Cognitive dissonance can also be eliminated very easily. Dissonance can be eliminated by "reducing the importance of the dissonant beliefs (Kearsley, 2002)." They can also be eliminated by "adding more consonant beliefs that outweigh the dissonant beliefs and by changing the dissonant beliefs so that they are no longer inconsistent (Kearsley, 2002)." If you are told about and research something you totally appose to, you will in turn see a fault in what you hold to be true.
