Festinger s 1957 cognitive dissonance theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behavior in harmony and avoid disharmony or dissonance. Festinger s theory of cognitive dissonance has been one of the most in. The most famous and widely cited of these theories is cognitive dissonance cdt. What marine recruits go through in boot camp earning the title making marines on parris island duration. Leon festingers 1957 a theory of cognitive dissonance is a key text in the history of psychology one that made its author one of the most influential social psychologists of his time. It is also a prime example of how creative thinking and problem solving skills can come together to produce work that changes the way people look at questions for good. The theory of cognitive dissonance festinger, 1957. Festinger s theory said that when a person holds contradictory elements in cognition producing an unpleasant state called dissonance the person will work to bring the elements. Leon festinger introduced the concept of cognitive dissonance as psychological tension in 1957.
In 1954 leon festinger first posited a theory of cognitive dissonance to describe the psychological phenomenon that occurs in these situations. Nov 11, 2011 the full length of the festinger experiment video. According to cognitive dissonance theory, there is a tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions i. The theory of cognitive dissonance was molded by leon festinger at the. The cognitive dissonance experiment is based on the theory of cognitive dissonance proposed by leon festinger in the year 1957. The psychologist leon festinger published his theory of cognitive dissonance in his 1957 book, a theory of cognitive dissonance. Inasmuch as festinger s theory is concerned with attitude change and attempts to discern how persuasive messages are processed in the minds of listeners, there is no doubt that it may be regarded as a communication theory. It is known by every social psychologist, most psychologists of any stripe, and the lay public, making its way into such mainstream publications as the new york times with increasing frequency and accuracy. A theory of cognitive dissonance by festinger, leon, 19191989. Introduction general overviews core books biographies and autobiography of classic. A theory of cognitive dissonance leon festinger download.
The term cognitive dissonance was coined by the american social psychologist leon festinger. Cognitive dissonance theory, developed by leon festinger 1957, is concerned with the relationships among cognitions. Read online cognitive dissonance theory leon festinger 1957 book pdf free download link book now. Alittle more than 60 years ago, leon festinger published a theory of cognitive. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger 1957. The theory of cognitive dissonance was developed in 1957 by leon festinger 1919 to 1989, an american psychologist, and has at its core the principle that people strive to maintain consistency among pairs of cognitions or knowledges about their. He tested the decisionmaking process in a cognitive dissonance experiment.
A theory of cognitive dissonance by festinger abebooks. Proposed by festinger, the cognitive dissonance theory asserts that people often have two conflicting or inconsistent cognitions which produce a state of tension or discomfort also known as dissonance. Leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been widely recognized for its important and. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors dissonance, something must change to eliminate the. A social and psychological study of a modern group that predicted the destruction of the world, and a theory of cognitive dissonance, and more on. Leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been widely recognized for its important and influential concepts in areas of motivation and social psychology. List of books and articles about cognitive dissonance. In his seminal 1957 book on the subject, a theory of cognitive dissonance, festinger argued. A theory of cognitive dissonance, book by leon festinger. Leon festinger, one such noted social psychologist, explained that people, in the course of their daily lives, hold a myriad of cognitions simultaneously. People hold many different cognitions about their world, e. An introduction to cognitive dissonance theory and an.
Leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been widely recognized for its important and influential concepts in areas of motivation and social. Introduced by leon festinger in 1957and since that time debated, refined, and debated again by psychologistscognitive dissonance is defined as the aversive state of arousal that occurs when a person holds two or more cognitions that are inconsistent with each other. He has the honor of establishing the experimentation techniques in social psychology to an advanced level. The theory of dissonance is here applied to the problem of why partial reward, delay of reward, and effort expenditure during training result in increased resistance to extinction. Cognitive dissonance theory in social psychology iresearchnet.
In a time of abundant information, the risk of picking up only those data that support our previous convictions is always there. This book charts the progress of dissonance theory, assessing its impact not only within our understanding of. It has generated hundreds and hundreds of studies, from which much has been learned. Cognitive dissonance has been an important and influential theory since leon festinger published his classic work in 1957.
In general, social psychologists, always looking for the next great theory, seemed to have shelved this book and its concepts within a couple of decades after it came out in 1957 see leon festinger s comments 30 years later in appendix b of cognitive dissonance progress on a pivotal theory. While at the university of minnesota, festinger read about a cult that believed that the end of the world was at hand. Leon festinger and cognitive dissonance exploring your mind. Festinger proposed that people experience discomfort when they hold. According to festinger, cognitive dissonance occurs when peoples thoughts and feelings are inconsistent with their behavior, which results in an uncomfortable, disharmonious feeling. In the years since, cognitive dissonance has become a central pillar of psychological theory, as was documented in the first edition of this book. Psychologist leon festinger is known for his theory of cognitive dissonance, which concerns our actions and attitudes. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. It is also a prime example of how creative thinking and problem solving skills can come together to produce work that changes the way people look at.
An analysis of leon festingers a theory of cognitive. Leon festinger born may 8, 1919 february 11, 1989 was a social psychologist from new york city who became famous for his theory of cognitive dissonance. Leon festinger first posited a theory of cognitive dissonance to describe the psychological phenomenon that occurs in these situations. Cognitive dissonance is described as psychological discomfort that arises from holding incompatible ideas at the same time. This work is a clearly stated theory on how humans think, decide, and defend their decisions. Psychologist leon festinger first described the theory of cognitive dissonance in 1957. All books are in clear copy here, and all files are secure so dont worry about it. The premiss for this classic piece of research was to test what happens to a persons private opinion when they are forced to do or say something contrary to that opinion. People are then motivated to reduce the dissonance, often in the easiest manner possible. Leon festinger leon festinger cognitive dissonance. She attracted a group of followers who left jobs, schools, and. May 11, 2012 theory of cognitive dissonance the theory of cognitive dissonance has been the subject of interest and study of social psychologists in particular.
In general, social psychologists, always looking for the next great theory, seemed to have shelved this book and its concepts within a couple of decades after it came out in 1957 see leon festingers comments 30 years later in appendix b of cognitive dissonance progress on a pivotal theory in social psychology edited by eddie harmonjones and judson mills. Izuma, k matsumoto, m murayama, k samejima, k sadato, n matsumoto. A theory of cognitive dissonance book by leon festinger. Adaptability psychology, cognitive dissonance, cognitieve dissonantie, dissonance cognitive.
Cognitive dissonance introduction leon festinger published in 1957. Cognitive dissonance leon festinger according to cognitive dissonance theory, there is a tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions i. He is also very wellknown for developing social theory for the proximity effect. Leon festinger 8 may 1919 11 february 1989 was an american social psychologist, perhaps best known for cognitive dissonance and social comparison theory.
Festinger 1957 cited under core books considered three ways to cope with cognitive dissonance. Buy an analysis of leon festinger s a theory of cognitive dissonance by camille morvan, alexander oconnor isbn. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon, festinger and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. See all books authored by leon festinger, including when prophecy fails.
Leon festinger was the first psychologist to study cognitive dissonance around the 1950s, and his works, such as books and experiments, helped to shed light on the ways in which humans act to decrease cognitive dissonance. The believers met at a predetermined place and time, believing they alone would survive the earths destruction. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger, paperback. The book puts forward a new theory that seems to reconcile these data and. A theory of cognitive dissonance 9780804709118 by festinger, leon and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at great prices. The theory of cognitive dissonance was molded by leon festinger at the beginning of the 1950s.
Because there is an imbalance, or discomfort, cognitive dissonance is often considered to be negative. In theory of cognitive disonance, festinger has written a book we can all easily follow along and indeed find hard to put down. In the rest of the book many behavioural facts supporting the theory are put forward. Festinger earned his bachelor of science degree from the city college of new york in 1939. Download cognitive dissonance theory leon festinger 1957 book pdf free download link or read online here in pdf. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger. Festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been one.
Leon festinger introduced cognitive dissonance theory in a 1957 book, a theory of cognitive dissonance. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger 30jun. An early version of cognitive dissonance theory appeared in leon festinger s 1956 book, when prophecy fails. His theory, which has been referenced in media often, is thouroughly interesting. In the field of psychology, cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds two or more.
When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors dissonance, something must change to eliminate the dissonance. Cognitive dissonance theory has been known to play out in several ways. Sep 28, 2016 before leon fessinger created experiments in 1957 he and his colleagues henry riecken and stanley schachter were interested in conditions under which disconfirmation of beliefs leads to increased conviction. This book gave an inside account of the increasing belief which sometimes follows the failure of a cults prophesy. Keech, reported receiving messages from extraterrestrial aliens that the world would end in a great flood on a specific date. Leon festinger, an introduction to the theory of cognitive. A theory of cognitive dissonance by festinger, leon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The author contends that a state of impasse exists. Cognitive dissonance as defined by the book, the distressing mental state caused by inconsistency between a persons two beliefs or a belief and an action, 200. List of books and articles about leon festinger online. A macat analysis of leon festingers a theory of cognitive dissonance. How did leon festinger discovered cognitive dissonance.
In a theory of cognitive dissonance 1957, leon festinger proposed that human beings strive for internal psychological consistency to function mentally in the real world. In an event wherein some of these cognitions clash, an unsettled state of tension occurs and this is called. Cognitive dissonance arises from incompatibility of thoughts that create a state of considerable discomfort in people. Cognitive dissonance theory by festinger communicative. Festingers 1957 cognitive dissonance theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behavior in harmony and avoid disharmony or dissonance. He tested the decisionmaking process in a cognitive dissonance experiment cognitive dissonance is a sensation that seems to derive from a conflict between the ideas, beliefs, and values of a certain subject and their behavior. The theory was motivated by a study of rumors immediately following a severe earthquake in india in 1934. A theory of cognitive dissonance leon festinger download bok. Cognitive dissonance 1 theory paper cognitive dissonance. May 16, 2019 a theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger, 1962, stanford university press edition. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger 1 ratings, 4. Here are presented all the main aspects of the theory. His theories and research are credited with renouncing the previously dominant behaviorist view of social psychology by demonstrating the inadequacy of stimulusresponse conditioning accounts of human behavior.
But even before festinger was the greek fabulist aesop. Cognitive dissonance is a sensation that seems to derive from a conflict between the ideas, beliefs, and values of a certain subject and their behavior. The phrase cognitive dissonance was proposed by leon festinger, who presented the theory behind it in his 1957 book, a theory of cognitive dissonance. A person who experiences internal inconsistency tends to become psychologically uncomfortable and is motivated to reduce the cognitive dissonance. Riecken and stanley schachter, to explain how members of a ufo doomsday cult increased their commitment to the cult when a prophesised destruction of the earth did not happen.
The cognitive dissonance theory cdt of leon festinger describes how humans adjust actions and behaviors in the presence of personal beliefs. Leon festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been widely recognized for its. Leon festinger s theory of cognitive dissonance has been widely recognized for its important and influential concepts in areas of motivation and social psychology. Originally published in the journal of abnormal and social psychology in 1959, cognitive consequences of forced compliance by leon festinger and james carlsmith was the first of numerous studies to corroborate the theory of cognitive dissonance. That brings us to the next point, namely the categorization of cognitive dissonance theory. Leon festinger s 1957 a theory of cognitive dissonance is a key text in the history of psychology one that made its author one of the most influential social psychologists of his time. Leon festinger was a wellknown american social psychologist. Cognitive dissonance and the trump reelection buzz at. This is chapter one of leon festinger, a theory of cognitive dissonance. The book is not cold and technical like so many other books in this field, on the contrary, its quite engaging. His theories and research are credited with repudiating the previously dominant behaviorist view of social psychology by demonstrating the inadequacy of stimulusresponse conditioning accounts of human behavior. It suggests that inconsistencies among cognitions i.
Cognitive dissonance is the negative feeling that results from conflicting beliefs and behaviors. Cognitive dissonance theory cognitive dissonance theory was first developed by leon festinger in 1956 after the publication of a book when prophecy fails, written with coauthors henry w. When there is inconsistency in belief and action or cognitive dissonance we experience a feeling of discomfort. Born on 8 th may, 1919, he was the pioneer of social comparison and cognitive dissonance theory. Many of these cognitions are irrelevant to each other and are not problematic for the. A theory of cognitive dissonance by leon festinger, 9780804709118, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Cognitive theories of motivation rely on your thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes to explain your motivation. In general, social psychologists, always looking for the next great theory, seemed to have shelved this book and its concepts within a couple of decades after it came out in 1957 see leon festingers comments 30 years later in appendix b of cognitive dissonance progress on a pivotal theory in social. Cognitive dissonance theory leon festinger 1957 pdf. In a theory of cognitive dissonance 1957, leon festinger proposed that human. After completing his undergraduate studies, he attended the university of iowa where he received his ph. This is known as the principle of cognitive consistency. A theory of cognitive dissonance quotes by leon festinger. A little more than 60 years ago, leon festinger published a theory of cognitive dissonance 1957.
1254 268 879 421 1031 427 608 1010 1472 5 1119 545 523 611 1100 92 1314 123 100 481 347 1427 1050 1048 1431 767 987 483 813 811 949 429 1088 1236 459 796 1295 215 1159 632 1359 1190 780 497 1276