ref:
- https://thedecisionlab.com/
- https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNOLdXlBwRw
cognitive disonance
def: psychological discomfort we experience when we hold two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes or values simultaneously → and we tend to avoid this clash
e.g.
- action: someone tells a lie,
- feeling: feels uncomfortable about it,
- thought/belief/value: because they fundamentally see themselves as an honest person
e.g.
- belief: animal cruelty is wrong
- another thought: but also it’s yummy
- feeling: conflicting, guilt, discomfort
signs of cognitive dissonance:
- feeling uncomfortable or anxious
- justifying or rationalising behaviour
- avoiding new information
- selective memory
- downplaying the importance of the conflict
types of cognitive dissonance:
- belief disconfirmation
- induced compliance
- effort justification
- post-decisional dissonance
⇒ this happens when there is psychological discomfort between our beliefs, most commonly when beliefs don’t align with actions
how do ppl deal with these discomforts?
- change actions to align with beliefs
- beliefs/attitudes: be healthy and lose weight
- misaligned actions: couch potato → cognitive dissonance
- aligned actions: physical activity to be healthy
- change beliefs to align with actions
- actions: physical activity to be healthy and look good
- misaligned beliefs/attitudes: have an fitness influencer’s body to be healthy and look good → cognitive dissonance because unrealistic goal
- aligned beliefs/attitudes: body image and health expectations changed
- avoiding, disillusion instead of solving
- distraction with quick and intense dopamine shots to feel better : D
- rationalisation → trying to justify our behaviours, actions, beliefs, telling ourself it’s not that bad, not that misaligned,
at the end, you have to face one of them, choose wisely:
- anxiety and discomfort from the cognitive dissonance and disillusion
- anxiety and discomfort from change and growth and the unknown
so… what can we do to fight against this cognitive dissonance that seems to eat us away?
the main weapon should be integrity, which is the opposite of dissonance.
⇒ to have integrity means to be aligned with your values, your actions, your words.
so be aware and seek out those moments where you find excuses to justify an action or a belief, a dissonance, or if you feel stressed, frustrated, anxious
and make an honest assessment whether you’re aligned or not, and if not, what can you do? what do you want?
choose what’s right for you, not what feels easy or comfortable.