Is Cognitive Dissonance The Cause Of Your Emotional Discomfort?

Have you ever held a strong belief, principle or value only to break it? Cognitive dissonance is an uncomfortable tension created by having two conflicting thoughts at the same time. For example if I believe that I am a good person, but then do something that I believe to be bad this creates cognitive dissonance. 

Festinger first developed this theory in the 1950′s after noticing that feelings of discomfort increase with the importance of the subject, and the strength of the internal conflict. They also increase if we fail to rationalise and explain away the conflict.  He tested his theory by infiltrating a cult who believed the world was going to end on a certain date, but that cult members would be rescued by aliens. When the world didn’t end the members actually increased their commitment to the cult. Festinger discovered that in order to avoid uncomfortable feelings of stupidity, members chose to believe that aliens had saved the world out of their concern for the cult. In other words they had rationalised away one part of the dissonance.

As you can see, cognitive dissonance acts as a powerful motivator which drives us to resolve conflicts. It encourages us to change our behaviour, or justify the change in our belief system.  Motivation appears to increase when the conflict involves our own self image.

If you start to feel uncomfortable after making a decision, stop and try to analyse the cause of the discomfort. Which deeply held principle, value or belief have you just compromised? If these feelings are caused by another person, perhaps you could think about analysing your relationship with them.