Navigating our own Mental Maze: Understanding and Overcoming Cognitive Dissonance
What can we do to identify it and overcome our biases.
I spent my last 6 plus years here, in the US, wondering about how people can believe and support hateful leaders day in and day out despite all the overwhelming evidence demonstrating they are as bad as they seem and are never going to work for the well-being of the average citizen.
This got me thinking a lot about Cognitive Dissonance. I previously told the story of a person who said they would not vote for Obama because they said he was a “liar.” This was completely contradictory to my understanding of the person. I wanted to discount them completely out of hand, but I knew that somewhere some place they got that idea and I needed to find out what and where.
Every day, our minds are bombarded with countless pieces of information, opinions, and beliefs, many of which inevitably clash with our own preconceived notions. When they do, we find ourselves caught in the crossfire of conflicting ideas. This psychological tug-of-war is known as cognitive dissonance.
What is Cognitive Dissonance?
Cognitive dissonance is a term coined by social psychologist Leon Festinger in 1957. It refers to the mental discomfort we experience when we hold two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values simultaneously. Imagine trying to walk in two opposite directions at once, and you'll get a pretty good sense of what cognitive dissonance feels like!
One example of this dissonance in my day-to-day life is conservation. I want to be a conscientious steward of the world around me. But each time I toss something in the trash because it is unclear if it is recycles, shows that I am not as diligent as I would like to be.
Cognitive Dissonance in Daily Life
Cognitive dissonance is not a condition or disorder; it's a universal human experience. We all face situations that challenge our beliefs and behavior, triggering this psychological conflict. It's our mind's way of alerting us that something is off, that we need to restore harmony and consistency in our worldview.
There are times when I mentally roll my eyes at the people who constantly boast about themselves, while also personally boasting about my own skills and abilities.
I love going outside and experiencing the world around me by biking or having a meal on an open-air patio, yet I can’t sit outside without itching and feeling like every little creature is crawling on me.
Recognizing Cognitive Dissonance
Recognizing cognitive dissonance in ourselves is the first step towards dealing with it effectively. Here are a few signs:
1. Denial: We often reject or minimize information that conflicts with our beliefs to reduce discomfort.
2. Justification: We might invent convincing reasons or excuses to justify our conflicting behaviors or beliefs. - We all have experienced this. We decide that this dissonance is not true because we have more rights to our beliefs than others to their facts. I, personally, can’t justify life issues by using a diety and a dogma to offload my responsibility.
3. Ignoring: Sometimes, we choose to ignore the conflict altogether, pretending it doesn't exist. - I often think of this as the kid covering their ears and yelling “nah nah nah, I’m not listening to you.” This is a very childish response
4. Shifting Blame: We may assign the blame to others to avoid confronting our own cognitive dissonance. - I had a person in my life who would always blame others for their mistakes. I watched them be duped by another and find themselves holding the bag that they willinglingly accepted. Sure, that person duped you, but you still were duped, and that is on you.
Overcoming Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance can lead to irrational decision-making if left unchecked. But the good news is that we can learn to manage it better:
1. Awareness: Recognize the existence of cognitive dissonance and how it affects your thought process.
2. Acceptance: Accept that cognitive dissonance is a normal part of human psychology. There's no shame in experiencing it. - Here’s an idea… learn how to not like someone and still exist in the world with them.
3. Analysis: Analyze the conflicting beliefs or behaviors. Try to understand why the conflict exists. - This is not easy…. What questions can you ask about this?
4. Adjustment: Be open to changing your beliefs or behaviors. This might involve seeking more information, weighing evidence objectively, and being honest with yourself. - The Socratic method encourages us to ask questions and be curious about what brought us to our dissonance.
5. Seek Help: If you're struggling, consider seeking help from a mental health professional or trusted person in your life. - I discovered that I didn’t deal with a number of things that have shaped who I am. My work with therapists has helped me see that some of the dissonance I experience is tied to my not feeling safe to feel big emotions. I still have child-like emotional responses at 53 years old. I am learning to recognize them, allow myself to feel them, and take the time I need to get past them.
Cognitive dissonance is a complex and sometimes uncomfortable part of human psychology. However, by recognizing and managing it, we can become better decision-makers, learn to navigate the world of conflicting ideas more effectively, and ultimately lead more coherent and consistent lives.
Adam Grant asks us to “Rethink.” What questions can we ask of ourselves?
What do you do to recognize and understand the cognitive dissonance in your life?