scholarly journals The rationality of belief change and the unexpected effects of a conflict of values

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Romy Sauvayre
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Dissonance ◽  
Belief Change ◽  
Belief System ◽  
Cognitive Dissonance Theory ◽  
Explanatory Hypothesis ◽  
Insufficient Reason ◽  
Fundamental Value ◽  
Belief Changes ◽  
Dissonance Theory

This article is based on a question that is already present in the work of Festinger et al.: Why is the unequivocal disproof of a given belief an insufficient reason for abandoning that belief? We will first outline the cognitive dissonance theory and then discuss how, in a seemingly counterintuitive way, beliefs that are contradicted by facts—that is, factual contradictions—lead only to minimal belief changes, whereas beliefs that are in contradiction with some fundamental value held by an individual—that is, axiological contradictions—represent a challenge to the individual’s entire belief system and may lead to disaffiliation. The objective of this article is to propose an alternative explanatory hypothesis to that of Festinger—which is now disputed—and thus provide new answers to help understand the process by which beliefs are abandoned. This article has epistemological ambitions insofar as it aims to demonstrate that by means of a paradigm based on reasons and abduction—the Boudon-Peirce Paradigm—it is possible to propose an alternative, explanatory hypothesis to that of Festinger’s and to provide new answers to facilitate understanding the process of abandonment of beliefs. This comprehensive paradigm has allowed the discovery that conflicts of values—axiological contradictions—can cause disaffiliation.

Judging Reduced Price Effects on Product Trial, Repeated Purchase, and Attitudes

1977 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-75
Author(s):  
Earl W. Wims
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Dissonance ◽  
New Products ◽  
Cognitive Dissonance Theory ◽  
Product Trial ◽  
Long Run ◽  
Price Effects ◽  
Dissonance Theory ◽  
Objective Being

Price incentives have traditionally been utilized to influence consumers to purchase new produces with the long-run objective being repeated purchase. An analysis of triers of new products suggests that this strategy is questionable and further study should be undertaken. Cognitive dissonance theory may account for the behavior resulting from a change in attitude induced by various levels of incentive.

scholarly journals Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Psychology ◽  
2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Vaidis ◽  
Alexandre Bran
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Dissonance ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
General Psychology ◽  
Social Situations ◽  
Cognitive Dissonance Theory ◽  
Historical Sources ◽  
Scientific Publications ◽  
Very Large Array ◽  
Dissonance Theory ◽  
First Time

Appearing for the first time in the mid-20th century, the term “cognitive dissonance” appears nowadays about eight hundred times in PsycINFO and the original book has been cited more than forty-five thousand times in scientific publications: that is more than twice a day for about sixty years. The theory of cognitive dissonance was molded by Leon Festinger at the beginning of the 1950s. It suggests that inconsistencies among cognitions (i.e., knowledge, opinion, or belief about the environment, oneself, or one’s behavior) generate an uncomfortable motivating feeling (i.e., the cognitive dissonance state). According to the theory, people feel uncomfortable when they experience cognitive dissonance and thus are motivated to retrieve an acceptable state. The magnitude of existing dissonance depends on the importance of the involved cognitions. Experiencing a higher level of dissonance causes pressure and motivation to reduce the dissonance. Findings from several studies show that dissonance occurs when people do not act in accordance with their attitude (e.g., writing supportive arguments in favor of a topic that they do not agree upon; performing a task they disapprove). Festinger 1957 (cited under Core Historical Sources) considers three ways to cope with cognitive dissonance: (a) changing one or several involved elements in the dissonance relationship (e.g., moving an opinion to fit a behavior), (b) adding new elements to reduce the inconsistency (e.g., adopting opinions that fit a behavior), and (c) reducing the importance of the involved elements. Early theorists in this field suggested improvement to the cognitive dissonance theory by adding restrictions for the emergence of the phenomena. Three major developments have to be considered: the commitment purpose and freedom, the consequence of the act purpose, and the self-involvement. Since the 2010s, the theory has been refined with new integrative models and methodological breakthrough. Mostly studied in human beings, several studies shift paradigms to other animals such as nonhuman primates, rats, and birds. The cognitive dissonance theory has been applied to a very large array of social situations and leads to original experimental designs. It is arguably one of the most influential theories in social psychology, general psychology, and cross-discipline sciences more generally.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document