In their laboratory experiment, they used 71 male students as participants to perform a series of dull tasks (such as turning pegs in a peg board for an hour). Saul Mcleod, Ph.D., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years experience of working in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

You may also experience cognitive dissonance when you have situations where friends, family members or coworkers act a certain way that don’t align with your beliefs. In the workplace, cognitive dissonance can contribute to lower job satisfaction. Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort that results from https://ecosoberhouse.com/ holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. People tend to seek consistency in their attitudes and perceptions, so this conflict causes unpleasant feelings of unease or discomfort. Cognitive dissonance can be highly disruptive and can cause many challenges for those who suffer from its effects.

Social pressure and conformity

Engaging in selective perception is a common sign of cognitive dissonance too. People may unconsciously ignore or downplay information that challenges their existing beliefs or behaviours while actively seeking out and favouring information that supports their viewpoint. Cognitive dissonance is a theory in social psychology first proposed by Leon Festinger. According cognitive dissonance treatment to this theory, cognitive dissonance describes the discomfort experienced when two cognitions are incompatible with each other. A person who feels defensive or unhappy might consider the role cognitive dissonance might play in these feelings. If they are part of a wider problem that is causing distress, people may benefit from speaking with a therapist.

It’s hard at first, but instead of feeling guilty when you see the gym keychain, you feel proud of yourself. Every time you see the membership tag on your keychain, it reminds you of that pesky truth — that exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle. You may make a conscious effort to choose nutritious foods, try to avoid processed foods and soda, and shoot for eight hours of sleep every night. This incompatibility (dissonance) can happen when you do something that goes against one of your values. Or maybe you learn a new piece of information that disagrees with a long-standing belief or opinion.

A discrepancy between self-image and actions

A big part of dismantling our cognitive distortions is simply being aware of them and paying attention to how we are framing things to ourselves. If we frame things in a healthy, positive way, we almost certainly will experience less anxiety and isolation. This doesn’t mean that we ignore problems, challenges, or feelings, just that we approach them with a can-do attitude instead of letting our thoughts and feelings amplify our anxiety. Recognizing the emotional and mental confusion that you experience is an important step in breaking out of self-doubt. Working with a therapist using talk therapy is instrumental in making changes to how you see yourself and learning to trust your own experiences, thoughts, and beliefs.

People experience cognitive dissonance for many reasons, but a common trigger is work. “Maybe you’re at a company with a work culture or attitudes that are in opposition or conflict to what you believe,” according to Dr. Scott. School is another catalyst for tension as people are acclimating to a new environment, meeting others and learning new information. Furthermore, it is a condition of holding contradictory cognitions (e.g., ideas, beliefs, values, behaviors).