Facts about Cognitive Dissonance Theory
- 06
Research inspired by cognitive dissonance theory found that people who undergo effortful initiation to join a group subsequently rate that group more favorably.
- 05
Festinger's theory has been extended to explain post-decision dissonance, where people experience doubt after making an irreversible choice between two attractive options.
- 04
The theory predicts that dissonance is strongest when a behavior cannot be easily undone and conflicts with a person's self-concept.
- 03
Dissonance reduction strategies identified within cognitive dissonance theory include changing a belief, adding new cognitions, or reducing the importance of the conflicting belief.
- 02
A classic demonstration of cognitive dissonance is the insufficient justification effect, where people paid less to perform a boring task rated it as more enjoyable.
- 01
Leon Festinger introduced cognitive dissonance theory in 1957, proposing that people experience psychological discomfort when holding contradictory beliefs or attitudes.