Self-Justification and cognitive dissonance Think about a time in which you expe

Question

Self-Justification and cognitive dissonance

Think about a time in which you experienced cognitive dissonance after performing a behavior (e.g., saying something you didn’t believe, making a difficult choice, behaving in a way contrary to your personal beliefs, expending considerable effort to become part of a group that turns out to be worse than you had anticipated, etc.). Describe the situation in a few sentences, and respond to the following questions:

How did the cognitive dissonance make you feel? Why?

How did you resolve the dissonance? Did you change your attitude, change your behavior, add new cognitions, or something else?

Did you use external justification or internal justification to help resolve your dissonance? If so, how?

Were there any lasting effects of this experience? Explain.

Explanation / Answer

One of the thoughts that creates cognitive dissonance in me on a fairly regular basis is of smoking. I am a regular smoker, a chain smoker at periods of stress. In fact, in cases when people stop me, I tend to agree that I would stop and quit and I’m willing to, but I really don’t. I know people will keep saying, but I continue my smoke. Yes, I do take care not to smoke in and around any of my family member, since secondary smoke is harmful as well, but the relief that I get is far from making me quit.

How did the cognitive dissonance make you feel? Why?

Have been told again and again by people to not smoke and that it is bad, but I know it is bad. I know it is injurious. But, the relief that I get does not allow me to quit smoking. It gives me a kick that I will not be getting if I stop. Knowing that the behavior is harmful does not make me stop the behavior.

How did you resolve the dissonance? Did you change your attitude, change your behavior, add new cognitions, or something else?

I resolved the dissonance by not smoking around any of my family members, preventing them from the harm and by concentrating on the relief that I get in any of the stress ful situations. Also, it allows me to think clearly and let’s me navigate through difficult situations.

Did you use external justification or internal justification to help resolve your dissonance? If so, how?

I used internal justification for resolving my conflict. Even after knowing that it is an incorrect action, I tend to focus on what I get of it and that I’m not harming my family by smoking in and around them.

Were there any lasting effects of this experience? Explain.

Yea, I have not been able to quit smoking and I’m not sure if I would be able to quit any time soon.

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