PSYC 2100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 19: Cognitive Dissonance, Balance Theory, Takers

• School: Carleton University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 2100
• Professor: Danay Novoa

Document Summary

Psyc 2100: intro to social psychology (attitudes, beliefs & consistency part 2) There are times when our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours do not match demonstrating an inconsistency. Theories of inconsistencies typically argue: there are certain conditions needed, when inconsistencies occur, people typically feel negative pressure and need to resolve it, necessary conditions needed to resolve. We have some sort of inconsistency; we feel some negative pressure or feeling so we try to engage in behaviour to resolve it. Each theory will discuss these three arguments. People can share attitudes about attitudes objects but sometimes there are inconsistencies (imbalance). Balance theory assesses the balance of a relationship among its elements: person a (person or p, person b (other person or o, attitude object (x) Looks at the balance of relationships among its elements. The relationship is demonstrated in a triangle with a valance sign (positive/negative) between each relationship.