thoughts out of tune
TRANSCRIPT
Thoughts Out of TuneFestinger, L. & Carlsmith, J.M. (1959)
Leon Festinger A research psychologist Highly influential in his field Proposed famous theory of cognitive
dissonance
What is Cognitive Dissonance? When you simultaneously hold two or
more cognitions which are psychologically inconsistent
This in turn creates discomfort and stress which motivates you to change your attitude since behavior cannot be changed
This Opinion Shift is Due to: Mentally rehearsing the speech The process of trying to think of
arguments in favor of the forced position
Rewards Additional studies were conducted that
offered momentary awards to subjects for giving convincing speeches contrary to their own views
It was found that larger the rewards produced less attitude change than smaller rewards
Festinger’s Growing Theory After India’s 1934 earthquake, rumors
spread that areas outside danger zone would be hit with additional and greater proportions (these rumors had no scientific foundation).
The rumors were not anxiety-increasing, but anxiety-justifying.
The Result: The cognition of fear was out of tune
with lack of any scientific basis for their fear (cognitive dissonance!)
They made their world fit with what they were feeling and how they were behaving.
Task 71 male, lower division, psychology
students participated thinking it was for measures of performance (done for bias responses)
Task is scheduled for 2 hours Interview afterwards about their
experiences
Method 1st Task: They were given 12 spools in a
tray. Empty it onto the table. Refill. Empty again with one hand at for own pace for 30 minutes.
2nd Task: They were given a board with 48 squares. They were asked to turn each peg a quarter of a turn clockwise and repeat for 30 minutes
Experiment Subjects were randomly assigned to 3
conditions Control group(20 people): After tasks
were completed, were taken into another room to be interviewed]
Other 2 groups were paid to lie about the tasks
Experiment Continued... The subjects that offered to join in the
experiment were to describe the experiment as “enjoyable, a lot of fun, intriguing...”
Some subjects were paid $1 while others were paid $20 and called into the room to wait for the incoming subject
Results Those subjects who were paid $1 for
lying about the tasks were the ones who later reported liking the tasks more, compared with both paid $20 to lie and those who did not lie.
Average Ratings on Interview Questions
QuestionQuestion Control groupControl group $1$1
groupgroup$20$20
groupgroup
1. How 1. How enjoyable tasks enjoyable tasks were (-5 to +5)were (-5 to +5)
-0.45-0.45 +1.35+1.35 -0.05-0.05
2. How much 2. How much learned (0 to learned (0 to 10)10)
3.083.08 2.802.80 3.153.15
3. Scientific 3. Scientific importance (0 importance (0 to 10)to 10)
5.605.60 6.456.45 5.185.18
4. Participate in 4. Participate in similar similar experiences (-5 experiences (-5 to +5)to +5)
-0.62-0.62 +1.20+1.20 -0.25-0.25
Festinger’s Explanation People that engage in attitude-
discrepant behavior (the lie), but have strong justification for doing so ($20), will experience only small dissonance , and therefore, not feel partially motivated to make change in their opinion
Insufficient justification ($1)> greater dissonance
Theory of Cognitive Dissonance
Attitude-discrepant behavior
Sufficient justification for behavior
Dissonance small
Attitude change small
Attitude-discrepant behavior
Insufficient justification for behavior
Dissonance large
Attitude change large
Questions and Criticisms No strong opponents Researchers such as Cooper and Fazio
and refined Festinger’s Theory of Cognitive Dissonance
Cooper and Fazios’ Four Steps for Cognitive Dissonance 1. Attitude-
discrepant behavior must produce unwanted negative consequences.
2. Personal responsibility must be taken for the negative consequences
3. Physiological arousal must be present
4. The person must be aware that the arousal experienced is being caused by the attitude-discrepant behavior
Applications Anti-smoking
messages failure explanation
Vicarious dissonance