Difference between revisions of "Cognitive dissonance"
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People respond to the uncomfortable feelings associated with cognitive dissonance in a number of ways, including: | People respond to the uncomfortable feelings associated with cognitive dissonance in a number of ways, including: | ||
* [[Resolution]]: Identifying the source of the contradiction and adjusting one one or both of the contradicting beliefs to eliminate the contradiction; | * [[Resolution]]: Identifying the source of the contradiction and adjusting one one or both of the contradicting beliefs to eliminate the contradiction; | ||
| − | * | + | * Rationalization: Inventing faulty justifications in an effort to maintain both contradictory ideas as true; |
* [[Denial]]: Denying the existence of a contradiction where one exists | * [[Denial]]: Denying the existence of a contradiction where one exists | ||
[[George Orwell]] famously discussed cognitive dissonance in his novel [[1984]], using the term [[doublethink]]. However, doublethink refers to the ability to overcome the stress or discomfort and to accept the contradictory ideas.<ref>[http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/ns-dict.html Newspeak Dictionary]</ref> | [[George Orwell]] famously discussed cognitive dissonance in his novel [[1984]], using the term [[doublethink]]. However, doublethink refers to the ability to overcome the stress or discomfort and to accept the contradictory ideas.<ref>[http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/ns-dict.html Newspeak Dictionary]</ref> | ||
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==References== | ==References== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Logic]][[Category:Psychology]][[Category:Mental health]] | [[Category:Logic]][[Category:Psychology]][[Category:Mental health]] | ||
Revision as of 18:14, September 18, 2015
Cognitive dissonance is stress or discomfort caused by simultaneously holding contradictory ideas.
Examples of cognitive dissonance
- A mother, who believes that her son is a good boy, learns that he has committed a serious crime;
- An atheist, who believes that there is no design or purpose in biological life, faces arguments and evidence that support the existence of a designer;
- A devout Muslim finds contradictions in the Qur'an.
Responses to cognitive dissonance
People respond to the uncomfortable feelings associated with cognitive dissonance in a number of ways, including:
- Resolution: Identifying the source of the contradiction and adjusting one one or both of the contradicting beliefs to eliminate the contradiction;
- Rationalization: Inventing faulty justifications in an effort to maintain both contradictory ideas as true;
- Denial: Denying the existence of a contradiction where one exists
George Orwell famously discussed cognitive dissonance in his novel 1984, using the term doublethink. However, doublethink refers to the ability to overcome the stress or discomfort and to accept the contradictory ideas.[1]