Cognitive dissonance has become a major buzz word in recent years. But what is it? How does it impact us? Can we actually use it to our advantage?
What is it? Why do we get it?
Cognitive dissonance is the negative or uncomfortable feeling we get when we hold contradicting beliefs and values or are confronted with new information that conflicts with our current beliefs. You may also have heard of the cognitive dissonance theory which states that we naturally try resolving this discomfort. We can do this by changing our beliefs, values, or behavior. On the other hand, we can reject new information and hold firm to our original stance.
Why we get cognitive dissonance is not entirely clear. It may be a mechanism similar to bias in which we simplify the world around us to make it easier to understand. Studying cognitive dissonance in a laboratory setting is difficult as it is an internal process and hard to recognize in other people. That being said, understanding cognitive dissonance in our own lives is essential to our development and growth.
Critical Thinking
Critical thinking plays a key role in resolving cognitive dissonance. If we come into contact with information that does not fit our held beliefs, we can choose to reject the information or change our beliefs. This is the interesting part – which path we choose isn’t as important as why we choose it. If you simply throw away the data without analyzing it, or on the other hand change your opinion without question, you won’t be entirely fixing that uncomfortable feeling. You may find yourself asking “what if” or become overly defensive of your beliefs. If we take a step back and take the time to examine all the information, we can gain true confidence in our beliefs by identifying why we value certain things.
Using critical thinking to resolve cognitive dissonance can also help us better understand complex situations. One example I have encountered in my life has to do with respecting experts while having a distrust of some of them. Throughout my life, I have had an interest in science and said we should trust in the experts who dedicate their time researching or treating cases. However, as I grew older, I learned about the dark history of medicine and had some negative experiences with doctors. It became uncomfortable for me to talk highly about medical professionals and it felt like a lie to say people can trust them. This was cognitive dissonance.
I couldn’t turn my back on science but I also could not deny my own experiences and education. Instead, the problem became more nuanced. I realized that there are good doctors and bad doctors. There are researchers who care about truth and those who seek to profit. I had to learn how to balance trust in experts with healthy skepticism – respect expertise but verify. Having experienced cognitive dissonance, I became a better critical thinker and was able to view the complexities of various issues.
Understanding Bias
One major factor that can contribute to cognitive dissonance is bias. We all have our biases. As stated earlier, these are mental short cuts that make it easier for us to understand the world around us. But as we know, they can become problematic and impact our view of others. It is easy to say that bias is bad and you should just stop thinking that way, but the reality is most biases are unconscious. We often don’t even realize we have a bias until that uncomfortable cognitive dissonance appears. To recognize bias, we first have to recognize cognitive dissonance. By paying attention when this feeling arises, we can understand our own biases and begin to address them. This is important in fostering empathy and creating deeper connections with others.
Overcoming Trauma
One of the largest struggles trauma survivors often face in recovery is the intense feelings of cognitive dissonance. They may hold contradicting beliefs that foster self-stigma or shame. An abuse survivor may still want to believe their abuser is a good person despite the harm they inflict to others or blame themselves instead. Someone who suffers a tragic event might hold empathy for others in similar situations but not themselves. You may be someone who believes everyone should have access to support, but also criticize yourself for reaching out for help. These types of contradictions are very common and often cause hesitation in seeking care. Overcoming cognitive dissonance is an important part of recovery. Without acknowledging these contradictions, we can never fully resolve that discomfort or fully understand how trauma impacts us.
Cognitive dissonance can also be a useful tool in identifying issues in the first place. It is often difficult to recognize that you are in a dangerous situation or being manipulated. Many cult survivors, for example, recall the experiences that caused cognitive dissonance or made them realize that something was wrong. Being able to look at a situation and say “something does not feel right” is the first step to getting out. As uncomfortable as it may be, addressing cognitive dissonance head-on can save lives.
Facing the Uncomfortable
Cognitive dissonance is not a pleasant thing to experience. If unresolved, it can cause significant stress and anxiety. It can also impact our relationship with others and prevent us from growing intellectually or emotionally. Ironically, shying away from this uncomfortable feeling can keep us in a state of internal conflict for longer. By addressing it directly, dissonance can teach us more about ourselves and allow us to regain control of the situations we find ourselves in.
This is no easy task. It takes time and effort to learn how to recognize these patterns while still managing our mental health. Therapists can help guide you through this process or give an outside perspective on issues you feel conflicted about. Understanding cognitive dissonance is important in self-care, healing, and personal growth. It is often talked about as a negative issue – but it is also an important tool.
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If you want to learn more about cognitive dissonance and the other themes discussed in this post, please see the following sources…
Cognitive Dissonance (Psychology Today)
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