Some Empirical Evidence for Ecological Dissonance Theory

2000 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 415-420 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane I. Miller ◽  
Nancy Verhoek-Miller ◽  
J. Martin Giesen ◽  
Elisabeth Wells-Parker
Keyword(s):  
Conflict Resolution ◽  
Empirical Evidence ◽  
Cognitive Dissonance ◽  
Ecological Theory ◽  
Communication Style ◽  
Cognitive Systems ◽  
Cognitive Dissonance Theory ◽  
Environmental Systems ◽  
Dissonance Theory

Using Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory as a model, the extension to Barker's ecological theory, referred to as ecological dissonance theory, was developed. Designed to examine the motivational dynamics involved when environmental systems are in conflict with each other or with cognitive systems, ecological dissonance theory yielded five propositions which were tested in 10 studies. This summary of the studies suggests operationally defined measures of ecological dissonance may correlate with workers satisfaction with their jobs, involvement with their jobs, alienation from their work, and to a lesser extent, workers' conflict resolution behavior and communication style.

Ecological Dissonance and Organizational Climate

1989 ◽  
Vol 64 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-166 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duane I. Miller ◽  
Jeff S. Topping ◽  
Elisabeth N. Wells-Parker
Keyword(s):  
Organizational Climate ◽  
Cognitive Dissonance ◽  
Ecological Theory ◽  
Theoretical Explanation ◽  
Driving Under The Influence ◽  
Cognitive Dissonance Theory ◽  
Dissonance Theory

Using some of the principles of cognitive dissonance theory, a theoretical corollary to Barker's 1968 ecological theory was developed. The result, referred to as ecological dissonance, was proposed as a theoretical explanation for several of the phenomena associated with the concept of organizational climate. The theory was also offered as an explanation of behaviors that can result from the introduction of stringent penalties for such offenses as driving-under-the-influence.

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.

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