Cognitive dissonance
Cognitive dissonance is the tension that arises when beliefs, values, or actions conflict with each other.
Definition
Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person experiences inconsistency between what he thinks, what he declares and what he does. To reduce tension, he may change behavior, update a belief, or justify a contradiction. This mechanism helps to understand rationalizations, resistance to feedback and difficulty in accepting facts that are inconvenient for one's identity.
Key ideas
- Cognitive inconsistency
- Rationalization
- Possibility to correct behavior
Practice and life
Instead of immediately defending yourself, write down: what I did, what value it conflicts with, and what one correction I can make.
Common misconceptions
It is a mistake to use dissonance as a label to judge others. A common mistake is to reduce tension by making excuses instead of making a real change.
> The greatest tension occurs when the facts begin to contradict the self-image.
> — Guru Element
Questions for self-reflection
- What contradiction makes me tense?
- Am I trying to change a fact or my own behavior?
- How can I regain consistency without fooling myself?