Cognitive Dissonance Theory

1. Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Qasim Hassan ……………………….. (02-132182-028)
Muhammad Aamir Khan ……….. (02-132182-029)
Muhammad Haseeb Aslam ……. (02-132182-013)
COURSE INSTRUCTOR
Ma’am Afifa Sardar

2. Project Title 2

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Cognitive Dissonance Theory

4. What you did ?
You acted as DISSONANT
If cognition is my state of mind…
what happens when that becomes
dissonant???
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Cognitive Dissonance Theory

5. Definition
• Cognitive dissonance refers to a
situation involving conflicting
attitudes, beliefs or behaviors.
• This produces a feeling of
discomfort leading to an
alteration in one of the attitudes,
beliefs or behaviors to reduce the
discomfort and restore balance
etc.
• For example, when people
smoke (behavior) and they know
that smoking causes cancer
(cognition).
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6. Festinger's (1957)
• cognitive dissonance theory suggests
that we have an inner drive to hold all
our attitudes and beliefs in harmony
and avoid disharmony (or dissonance).
• Attitudes may change because of
factors within the person.
• An important factor here is the
principle of cognitive consistency, the
focus of Festinger's (1957) theory of
cognitive dissonance.
• This theory starts from the idea that
we seek consistency in our beliefs and
attitudes in any situation where two
cognitions are inconsistent.
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7. Festinger's (1957)
Leon Festinger recognized
this issue and formulated
the theory of Cognitive
Dissonance based on the
fact that humans are
sensitive to
inconsistencies between
action and belief. This
inconsistency causes
dissonance which the
human will then strive to
alleviate by
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8. WHY DISSONANCE OCCUR ?
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Cognitive Dissonance Theory

9. 1. Change the belief
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Cognitive Dissonance Theory

10. 2. Change the action
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Cognitive Dissonance Theory

11. 3. Change your perception of the action.
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Cognitive Dissonance Theory

12. So what??
Sounds like an inherent spell check for your actions, right?
...the only problem...
But You can reduce it
Project Title 12

13. - By reducing the importance of the conflicting beliefs,
- Acquiring new beliefs that change the balance,
- or removing the conflicting attitude or behavior.
Project Title 13
HOW TO REDUCE DISSONANCE ?

14. CONCLUSION
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Cognitive Dissonance Theory

15. THANK YOU
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Cognitive Dissonance Theory