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How to Reduce Cognitive Dissonance

We don’t purposely want to make ourselves feel bad, so why does this feeling seem to creep up on us so often? There are several different situations that can create conflicts that lead to cognitive dissonance. The inconsistency between what people believe and how they behave motivates them to engage in actions that will help minimize feelings of discomfort. People attempt to relieve this tension in different ways, such as by rejecting, explaining away, or avoiding new information. Higher levels of empathy in children appeared to induce greater levels of cognitive dissonance in them, as they understood both parents’ emotions (van Dijk, van der Valk, Deković, & Branje, 2022).

Challenging Your Beliefs

This might involve discussing various aspects of your life, from relationships and career choices to personal values and habits. It’s like being a detective in your own mind, searching for clues to solve the mystery of your internal conflicts. Cognitive dissonance is the psychological discomfort that arises when an individual encounters a conflict between https://www.burberry-online.us/category/health-fitness/ what they believe and how they behave, or between two competing beliefs.

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For example, turning pegs (as in Festinger’s experiment) is an artificial task that doesn’t happen in everyday life. Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) investigated if making people perform a dull task would create cognitive dissonance through forced compliance behavior. Notice that dissonance theory does not state that these modes of dissonance reduction will actually work, only that individuals who are in a state of cognitive dissonance will take steps to reduce the extent of their dissonance. Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. Resolving or reducing cognitive dissonance is not always an easy task https://www.photoserver.us/3-tips-from-someone-with-experience — but it’s worth it.

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Maybe the decision or commitment wasn’t as right for us as we initially thought, even if it means overcoming our “no second-guessing” bias and making a different decision. Admitting it, apologizing if need be, and moving forward can save us a lot of time, mental energy and hurt feelings. They tend to modify their thought processes to support their cravings and addictive behavior, in order for them to feel or assure themselves that their choices or how they are acting is more favorable than it actually is.

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It is beneficial to avoid cognitive dissonance when someone’s beliefs do not line up with their behavior. From a psychological standpoint, cognitive dissonance is considered to be an important concept because it can help us understand how people make decisions and how they behave. Therapists often use it as a way to help their clients resolve conflicts and make changes in their lives.

The feelings of discomfort becomes great enough due to cognitive dissonance, people try and create an alignment in their thoughts, beliefs or behaviors to feel more at ease. Like past literature on cognitive dissonance, our results support its potentially detrimental effects as well as its potential benefits for children (Hornstra et al., 2022). Narratives of divorce reveal how a child resolves their cognitive dissonance can lead to both positive and negative attitudes towards themselves and to their parents.

  • The thing is, you’re probably not going to experience and think, “This is cognitive dissonance.” Your going to feel uncomfortable, but you’re going to experience it more as guilt, shame, or regret.
  • Although, when something they once believed turns out too good to be true, it conflicts with their pre-existing beliefs about their decision-making abilities.
  • A therapist can help you examine your beliefs and behaviors and help you find effective ways for alleviating the cognitive dissonance you are experiencing.
  • Introverts, on the other hand, experienced increased dissonance discomfort and were more likely to change their attitude to match the majority of others in the experiment.
  • She has reported on several medical and science topics ranging from coronavirus news to the latest findings in mental health and women’s health.
  • Like past literature on cognitive dissonance, our results support its potentially detrimental effects as well as its potential benefits for children (Hornstra et al., 2022).

Here’s what you need to do to go about reducing and reconciling the cognitive dissonance in your life. Her clinical work, research expertise and advocacy for supporting BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ folx, as well as human sex trafficking survivors have garnered national praise and notoriety. She is an actively involved member of each of her intersecting communities and she is passionate about ensuring that culturally responsive content is accessible for all organizations in need. Anyone can experience this uneasiness when their feelings don’t align with their actions, says Rachelle Scott, M.D., a psychiatrist and ​​medical director of Mental Health at Eden Health in New York. Dissonance comes up when we realize there are two things opposing each other,” she explains. For instance, imagine you believe in the importance of living a healthy lifestyle but frequently indulge in junk food.

For instance, someone who invests significant time and effort into a project may convince themselves of its importance and success, even if the results are not as expected. For instance, when faced with a choice between two equally appealing options, individuals may experience cognitive dissonance as they weigh the pros and cons of each option. Although, when something they once believed turns out too good to be true, it conflicts with their pre-existing beliefs about their decision-making abilities. However, there are fortunate individuals who see how their substance abuse is causing not only destruction in their lives but also with those who love them. They hold onto the belief that they will see better days and that recovery is needed to change their life. At Granite Mountain Behavioral Healthcare, our team aims to help our clients with addiction and mental illness recover.

  • For example, someone who enjoys smoking might convince themselves that a short life filled with smoking and pleasures is better than a long, joyless life, thereby reducing the importance of dissonant cognition.
  • Enter cognitive dissonance therapy, a specialized form of cognitive therapy that aims to address these conflicting beliefs head-on.
  • This option is perfect for clients situated close to our clinics in the Bay Area who prefer the flexibility of choosing between virtual consultations or meeting their therapist in person.
  • The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
  • When we encounter an inconsistency—for example, valuing health but occasionally indulging in unhealthy snacks—we experience psychological discomfort.
  • For example, a person who tends to binge drink will justify their behavior by saying it is just a couple drink when in reality it is an excessive amount in a short period of time.

By combining evidence-based practices with compassionate care, we empower individuals to overcome cognitive dissonance and https://dalycitynewspaper.com/transform-sour-skin-with-led-therapy.html achieve greater mental well-being. Cognitive dissonance arises from the brain’s innate desire for consistency and balance. When faced with conflicting thoughts or behaviors, the mind attempts to resolve the tension to restore harmony. Finally, many of the studies supporting the theory of cognitive dissonance have low ecological validity.