1. Chapter 5: Self-Justification

2. Cognitive dissonance Leon Festinger
The feeling of tension or unease that occurs when we become aware of our own contradictory cognitions (attitudes, opinions, beliefs) or a contradiction between our cognitions and our behavior.

3. Cognitive dissonance, cont.
People are motivated to justify their own actions, beliefs, and feelings.
Dissonance is unpleasant – we try to reduce it.

4. How do we reduce dissonance?
We can change the cognition
We can change the behavior

5. Consider Elaine Cognitions Conflicting cognitions, attitudes, opinions
I’m committed to this man.
I’m a good person.
I have good judgment.
Conflicting cognitions, attitudes, opinions
I want nothing to do with him
My husband is a monster.
I had no idea what he was doing.

6. What changes can she make?
I didn’t know this about him; now that I do, my commitment isn’t binding - behavioral
People are complicated. They can do very bad things and have good qualities - cognitive
Others?

7. Post-Decisional Dissonance
Before making a decision – no need to justify it.
Making a decision produces dissonance
After making a decision, people seek information that validates the decision

8. Consider Arnold He decides to plead guilty
He experiences dissonance as a result
I pled guilty but I’m not guilty
I pled guilty for Jessie, but I can’t bear prison
I pled guilty and Jessie still goes to prison
How can he reduce his dissonance?
Review and focus on the reasons why he pled guilty and ignore the downside of his decision.

9. Moral behavior
People will tend to strengthen their beliefs about the rightness or wrongness of an act depending on whether or not they are tempted and resist; or are tempted and do not resist.
Imagine David knew all along his dad was guilty...

10. Foot-in-the-door technique
If someone agrees to a small request, they are more likely to agree to a larger request.
The small request provides justification for complying with the larger request.

11. Inadequate justification
We search for adequate justification for our cognitions and behavior
If there is sufficient external justification – no need to change our attitudes
If there is insufficient external justification – we look for internal justification and change our attitudes

12. One way… Dissonance Tension Tension Reduction External Justification
External works if: one is forced
one receives a reward
Life is back in harmony!

13. Or another… Dissonance Tension
Tension Reduction Internal Justification
If inadequate justification, use internal justification to reduce tension:
change attitude to fit behavior
distort perception to fit behavior
change view of evidence to fit behavior

14. Inadequate justification
A small reward may be sufficient to induce someone to do something
However, a small reward results in more dissonance
The resulting dissonance may require additional rationalization in the form of attitude change

15. Elaine again…
She believes Arnold is guilty, and there is all kinds of external justification for this belief…the police believe it, he looked at pictures, he admitted to molesting two kids, etc.
Let’s say she finds out he’s innocent. How can she reduce the dissonance she experiences then?
The external justification fails, and we go back to slide 13!

16. Justification of effort
If a person goes through a difficult or painful experience in order to attain a goal or object, that goal or object becomes more attractive
Justification of cruelty – occurs when a person denigrates someone s/he is cruel to

17. Dissonance and self-concept
We want to be good, wise, thoughtful
When our self concept is involved – dissonance is greater
Dissonance is greater when people feel responsible for their actions
And when they perceive their actions have serious consequences

18. Self Esteem and Dissonance
High self esteem and well grounded
Protect one’s ego while also being willing to learn from mistakes, grow, and acknowledge contradiction.
Apparent high self esteem and fragile
Dissonance leads to attitude, cognition and behavior that ignores reality.