What is cognitive dissonace?

Question

can someone explain it to me. i cant grasp it

Answer 1

The theory of cognitive dissonance states that a person will invent new thoughts or beliefs, or modify existing beliefs (rationalize) to reduce the amount of dissonance between conflicting cognition. This may provide temporary relief, but depending on the modified belief or behavior, cognitive dissonance can facilitate negative consequences.

For example, Jon thinks he is a good person. Jon also thinks drugs are bad. One night Jon does drugs. The dissonance lies in—‘good’ Jon does ‘bad’ drugs. To reduce this disparity, Jon may rethink his position on drugs or of himself. If the former...perhaps Jon will rationalize that, only some drugs are bad or drugs are bad only when abused.

The issue that arises, is such mental concession brings an individual one-step closer to the other side. It makes him/her more susceptible to future dispensations.

Answer 2

When you hold two opposite ideas at the same time. Say, a normally really safe person who always takes precautions who rides a motorcycle without a helmet. In order to reduce the anxiety produced by the two cognitions, you either change a cognition (decide the motorcycle really isn't dangerous) or change your behavior (put on a helmet). Changing behavior is the hardest of the two and so the least likely to occur.

Answer 3

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological term which describes the uncomfortable tension that comes from holding two conflicting thoughts at the same time. More precisely, it is the perception of incompatibility between two cognitions, where "cognition" is defined as any element of knowledge, including attitude, emotion, belief, or behavior.

The theory of cognitive dissonance states that contradicting cognitions serve as a driving force that compels the mind to acquire or invent new thoughts or beliefs, or to modify existing beliefs, so as to reduce the amount of dissonance (conflict) between cognitions. Experiments have attempted to quantify this hypothetical drive.

Answer 4

If you have a attitude/thought:
1. I dont like fish
and then some day at a dinner party you eat something and then somebody says it is salmon you get a new thought:
2. I ate salmon

Then you have to change either number 1 or number 2 cause you have a cognitive dissonance... maybe if you see cogntive as meaning "thoughts" and dissonance as meaning "noise".
Than it is like you have thought noise.. like in your head it is like:
HEY I DONT LIKE FISH BUT I JUST ATE SALMON -which is FISH. WHAT THE FRAG?

So then you have to either change the cognition number 1 or number 2. Because the brain likes to be consistent.

One could then fix this noise/dissonance to "I like some fish" or "I must have been really hungry today to like fish".

Answer 5

Do you mean cognitive dissonance? It is a situation where you have 2 conflicting thought processes going at the same time. For example: You may believe that Jesus Christ walked this earth in diety and died for your sins. You may also have this nagging doubt, saying no way, he was just a man. He didn't die for me. These are conflicting theories that cause dissonance.

Answer 6

Seeing two sides of an argument and trying to grasp both without belittling each. It is creating a rationale for accepting the wrong answer despite the obvious.

For instance, one may think smoking is bad for health, but smoke anyway because they see "no reason why not."

It is behavior for "no good reason." It is denial of the truth. It is holding on to falsehoods despite the knowledge of the right answer. It is acceptance of blind faith and concrete evidence at the same time.