When a person’s action contradicts their ideals or beliefs, they experience cognitive dissonance. It can also happen when a person believes two opposing beliefs simultaneously. Here’s all you need to know about cognitive dissonance, and you can deal with it.

We all like to see ourselves in a specific light. We regard ourselves as honest, hardworking, health-conscious, and in command. However, our actions do not necessarily correspond to how we perceive ourselves.

This type of inconsistency, known as cognitive dissonance, can create significant mental distress because cognitive dissonance can cause you to act and feel out of character if you aren’t self-aware.  Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort experienced when two or more forms of thought contradict each other. Ideas, opinions, or knowledge that one has acted in a certain way are examples of conflicting cognitions.

According to cognitive dissonance theory, people are resistant to discrepancies inside their own brains. It explains why people occasionally make an attempt to change their thinking when their own thoughts, words, or behaviors appear to clash.

When a person discovers new knowledge that contradicts a firmly held belief or acts in a way that appears to undermine a positive self-image, that person may feel compelled to resolve the negative sensation that results—in restoring cognitive consonance. Though cognitive dissonance is not always resolved, the response to it might range from ignoring the source to modifying one’s views or conduct to alleviate the conflict.

Cognitive dissonance presents a problem: how can we deal with the uneasy sensation that occurs when our own thoughts or behaviors contradict each other? 

Read on the know the full details!

Cognitive dissonance explained

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort caused by two opposing beliefs, ideals, or attitudes. Because people prefer consistency in their views and perceptions, this clash creates unpleasant emotions of disquiet or discomfort.

The discrepancy between what people believe and how they behave encourages them to take steps that would alleviate their distress. People try to alleviate this tension in a variety of ways, including rejecting, explaining away, or ignoring new knowledge.

According to cognitive dissonance theory, similar thoughts or behaviors might be harmonious (in accord) or discordant (conflicting). The term “cognitive” refers to understanding and information received through the senses, experiences, or thought processes. Internal harmony results when conceptions are consonant. You have the impression that you are acting in accordance with your beliefs and thoughts. When concepts are dissonant, it causes psychological stress and a desire to change.

What is the source of cognitive dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance can be caused by anything that creates an internal conflict between two thoughts or behaviors.

Compliance by coercion

Forced compliance occurs when you are forced to say or do anything against your will. This may result in cognitive dissonance.

Effort

Putting effort into something only to get poor results can be unpleasant. Spending time and effort without achieving the desired result might cause cognitive dissonance.

Decision-making

Once you’ve made a decision, you’ll experience cognitive dissonance as you gain the benefits of one option while losing the benefits of the other.

Gaslighting

Gaslighting is when one person attempts to make another doubt themselves. You may have witnessed this from someone close to you, such as a family member or coworker. Cognitive dissonance occurs when someone tries to persuade you of something you know isn’t true.

Cognitive dissonance symptoms

People who experience cognitive dissonance may feel anxious and uncomfortable. This is especially true if the discrepancy between their beliefs and behaviors concerns something important to their sense of self. 

For example, acting in ways that are inconsistent with your personal ideals may cause tremendous distress. Your behavior violates not only your views about the universe but also your beliefs about yourself.

Someone suffering from cognitive dissonance may experience:

• Anxiety
• Embarrassment
• Regret
• Sadness
• Shame 
• Stress
• Low self-esteem and self-worth.

When confronted with this, people may develop specific protection mechanisms. These defense mechanisms are classified into three types:

• Avoiding the dissonance entails avoiding or ignoring it: A person may avoid individuals or situations that remind them of it, discourage others from discussing it, or divert their attention away from it with time-consuming duties.

• Delegitimization: This can be accomplished by denigrating the individual, organization, or situation that exposed the dissonance. They may, for example, claim that it is untrustworthy or biased.

• Limiting impact: A person may accomplish this by saying that the behavior is unusual or a one-time occurrence or by presenting rational reasoning to convince themselves or others that the behavior is acceptable.

• Taking action to try to rectify the contradiction: Cognitive dissonance can be resolved by either changing one’s conduct or changing one’s beliefs such that they are consistent with each other.

How to Deal with Cognitive Dissonance?

The most effective strategy for a person to resolve cognitive dissonance is to guarantee that their behaviors are congruent with their ideals or vice versa.

This can be accomplished by:

Modifying their actions: This entails modifying one’s behavior to reflect one’s views. Where a complete change is not attainable, a person may make concessions. A person who cares about the environment yet works for a polluting corporation, for example, may campaign for change at work if they are unable to leave their position.

Changing their minds: If a person frequently acts in ways that contradict their views, they may begin to doubt the importance of that belief or discover that they no longer believe it. Alternatively, individuals could incorporate new beliefs that bring their behaviors more in accordance with their thinking.

Changing their perception of the action: If a person is unable or unwilling to modify the behavior or beliefs that are causing dissonance, they may instead view the conduct differently. For example, a person who cannot afford to shop for sustainable products may forgive themselves and recognize that they are trying their best.

Reducing the Importance of the Contrary Belief: A person who is concerned about their health may be troubled to find that sitting for lengthy periods of time during the day is associated with a shorter lifetime. It is tough to change their behavior because they work all day in an office and spend a lot of time sitting.

Many value judgments, decisions, and evaluations are influenced by cognitive dissonance. 

Understanding how opposing beliefs influence decision-making is a fantastic method to increase your capacity to make faster and more accurate decisions.