Chapter 5: Self-Justification

Cognitive dissonance Leon Festinger The feeling of tension or unease that occurs when we become aware of our own contradictory cognitions (attitudes, opinions, beliefs) or a contradiction between our cognitions and our behavior.

Cognitive dissonance, cont. People are motivated to justify their own actions, beliefs, and feelings. Dissonance is unpleasant – we try to reduce it.

How do we reduce dissonance? We can change the cognition We can change the behavior

Consider Elaine Cognitions Conflicting cognitions, attitudes, opinions I’m committed to this man. I’m a good person. I have good judgment. Conflicting cognitions, attitudes, opinions I want nothing to do with him My husband is a monster. I had no idea what he was doing.

What changes can she make? I didn’t know this about him; now that I do, my commitment isn’t binding - behavioral People are complicated. They can do very bad things and have good qualities - cognitive Others?

Post-Decisional Dissonance Before making a decision – no need to justify it. Making a decision produces dissonance After making a decision, people seek information that validates the decision

Consider Arnold He decides to plead guilty He experiences dissonance as a result I pled guilty but I’m not guilty I pled guilty for Jessie, but I can’t bear prison I pled guilty and Jessie still goes to prison How can he reduce his dissonance? Review and focus on the reasons why he pled guilty and ignore the downside of his decision.

Moral behavior People will tend to strengthen their beliefs about the rightness or wrongness of an act depending on whether or not they are tempted and resist; or are tempted and do not resist. Imagine David knew all along his dad was guilty...

Foot-in-the-door technique If someone agrees to a small request, they are more likely to agree to a larger request. The small request provides justification for complying with the larger request.

Inadequate justification We search for adequate justification for our cognitions and behavior If there is sufficient external justification – no need to change our attitudes If there is insufficient external justification – we look for internal justification and change our attitudes

One way… Dissonance Tension Tension Reduction External Justification External works if: one is forced one receives a reward Life is back in harmony!

Or another… Dissonance Tension Tension Reduction Internal Justification If inadequate justification, use internal justification to reduce tension: change attitude to fit behavior distort perception to fit behavior change view of evidence to fit behavior

Inadequate justification A small reward may be sufficient to induce someone to do something However, a small reward results in more dissonance The resulting dissonance may require additional rationalization in the form of attitude change

Elaine again… She believes Arnold is guilty, and there is all kinds of external justification for this belief…the police believe it, he looked at pictures, he admitted to molesting two kids, etc. Let’s say she finds out he’s innocent. How can she reduce the dissonance she experiences then? The external justification fails, and we go back to slide 13!

Justification of effort If a person goes through a difficult or painful experience in order to attain a goal or object, that goal or object becomes more attractive Justification of cruelty – occurs when a person denigrates someone s/he is cruel to

Dissonance and self-concept We want to be good, wise, thoughtful When our self concept is involved – dissonance is greater Dissonance is greater when people feel responsible for their actions And when they perceive their actions have serious consequences

Self Esteem and Dissonance High self esteem and well grounded Protect one’s ego while also being willing to learn from mistakes, grow, and acknowledge contradiction. Apparent high self esteem and fragile Dissonance leads to attitude, cognition and behavior that ignores reality.