Psychology 2070A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Cognitive Dissonance, Tooth Brushing, Leon Festinger

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2070A/B
• Professor: o

Document Summary

Feeling bad about irrational behaviour: the arousal dissonance. My name is kristen, it snowed last nightetc. Consonant cognitions beliefs that are consistent or compatible with one another: ex. I brush my teeth twice a day, and tooth brushing prevents cavities. Dissonant cognitions beliefs that are inconsistent or logically discrepant with one another: ex. Unpleasant feelings that are produced by dissonant cognitions motivate people to change their state. Dissonance state of feeling bad or conflicted about one"s own irrational behaviour: ex. I did badly on this test, and i expected to do well on the test. Making irrational behaviour rational: the reduction of dissonance. I smoke, but then smoking causes cancer" turns into smoking will not cause cancer in me this all becomes more consonant with cognition i smoke". To reduce: rationalization explained above, add consonant cognitions. Smoking is enjoyable" or smoking keeps my weight down". This makes behaviour of smoking more rational or justified: change behaviour.