Cognitive Dissonance Analysis: Stepping Out of Assigned Roles
Running Head: Cognitive Dissonance Analysis
Cognitive Dissonance Analysis: Stepping Out of Assigned Roles
Randi Cutler
Lehigh University
Abstract Research conducted by Leon Festinger and James M. Carlsmith has shown promise for the effects of cognitive dissonance on personal belief, and the adjustment of those beliefs to match publicly supported, yet contradictory arguments. We are testing to see whether the cognitive dissonance theory can be overcome by explicitly telling participants to step out of the role that they were assigned to. Participants included fifteen female and five male Lehigh undergraduates who watched a video clip about the relevance of aquatic theory, and were then told to evaluate that theory from an assenting or dissenting viewpoint to which they were assigned. Following their review, participants were asked to abandon their assigned roles, and complete a survey that would measure their personal agreement with the speaker in the video clip. Our findings were not significant enough to definitively say whether beliefs were altered as a result of assigned roles, and the detachment from them, but the average assessment of agreement score showed a slight difference in our predicted direction, that beliefs would be changed as a result of dissonance.
Cognitive Dissonance Analysis: Stepping Out of Assigned Roles
Human belief is thought to play a major role in deciding course of action. What if actions, however, proved to play a role in forming human belief? Recent studies conducted by Festinger and Carlsmith assign merit to the cognitive dissonance theory, a theory that explores the disconnect between actions and beliefs and lends itself to the possibility of altering those beliefs based on existing societal pressure to conform. Plainly put, cognitive dissonance is the presence of behaviors that are inconsistent with beliefs and that cause psychological discomfort.
In an effort to prove the Cognitive Dissonance Theory, researchers
Cognitive Dissonance Analysis: Stepping Out of Assigned Roles
Randi Cutler
Lehigh University
Abstract Research conducted by Leon Festinger and James M. Carlsmith has shown promise for the effects of cognitive dissonance on personal belief, and the adjustment of those beliefs to match publicly supported, yet contradictory arguments. We are testing to see whether the cognitive dissonance theory can be overcome by explicitly telling participants to step out of the role that they were assigned to. Participants included fifteen female and five male Lehigh undergraduates who watched a video clip about the relevance of aquatic theory, and were then told to evaluate that theory from an assenting or dissenting viewpoint to which they were assigned. Following their review, participants were asked to abandon their assigned roles, and complete a survey that would measure their personal agreement with the speaker in the video clip. Our findings were not significant enough to definitively say whether beliefs were altered as a result of assigned roles, and the detachment from them, but the average assessment of agreement score showed a slight difference in our predicted direction, that beliefs would be changed as a result of dissonance.
Cognitive Dissonance Analysis: Stepping Out of Assigned Roles
Human belief is thought to play a major role in deciding course of action. What if actions, however, proved to play a role in forming human belief? Recent studies conducted by Festinger and Carlsmith assign merit to the cognitive dissonance theory, a theory that explores the disconnect between actions and beliefs and lends itself to the possibility of altering those beliefs based on existing societal pressure to conform. Plainly put, cognitive dissonance is the presence of behaviors that are inconsistent with beliefs and that cause psychological discomfort.
In an effort to prove the Cognitive Dissonance Theory, researchers
References: Leon Festinger and James M. Carlsmith, . "Cognitive Consequences of Forced Compliance." Stanford University (1957): 203-210. Web. 18 Nov 1957.