AP PSYCHOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The central thesis of cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1957) is that when two beliefs are inconsistent, individuals experience negatively arousing cognitive conflict (called dissonance). Because the dissonance is aversive, the individuals try to reduce it by changing one or the other beliefs.

Detailed explanation-2: -Cognitive dissonance refers to a situation involving conflicting attitudes, beliefs or behaviors. This produces a feeling of mental discomfort leading to an alteration in one of the attitudes, beliefs or behaviors to reduce the discomfort and restore balance.

Detailed explanation-3: -The basic premise of dissonance theory is that people experience negative affect (to varying degrees) following the detection of cognitive conflict. The individual will be motivated to alleviate these emotional reactions and could do so by reducing dissonance in some manner.

Detailed explanation-4: -Cognitive dissonance theory: assumes that to reduce discomfort, we justify our actions to ourselves. Self-perception theory: assumes that our actions are self-revealing (when uncertain about our feelings or beliefs, we look to our behavior, much as anyone else would).

Detailed explanation-5: -Some signs you may be experiencing cognitive dissonance may include: discomfort before making a decision. feelings of guilt over past decisions. shame or embarrassment regarding a decision and hiding said decisions from others as a result.