Cognitive Dissonance: A Psychological Unrest

Abstract

Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon which will be created based on the discomfort experience when two cognitions are mismatch with each other. This study reviews some literature (nearly twenty-five (25) articles based on cognitive dissonance in past to give a clear picture regarding the cognitive dissonance in order to make the human beings away from stress and negative feeling. A cognition is a piece of a knowledge which can be, thought, attitude, personal value and behaviour. All of the human being prefer that their world should be associate with their cognitions. So, cognitive dissonance can be making a human being under stressful condition. People tend to seek uniformity in their attitudes and perceptions, so this battle creates feelings of unease or discomfort. This discrepancy between what people believe and how they behave stimulates people to engage in actions that will help to minimize their feelings of discomfort. In order to cope up with tension, humans are carrying out several strategies, such as rejecting the new information, explaining away or avoiding new information. Cognitive dissonance isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It can be positive, if we make positive changes in our beliefs when we realize that our beliefs and actions are odd. Not everyone experiences cognitive dissonance to the same degree. Some people have a higher tolerance for uncertainty and inconsistency. Even, based on the personality of a human also will decide how to tolerate the dissonance in an effective manner to reach a healthy life.