Have you ever found yourself in a mental tug-of-war before making a decision or felt a twinge of guilt over past choices? Welcome to the intriguing realm of Cognitive Dissonance. This blog will unravel the complexities of this psychological concept and its dynamic relationship with cognitive biases. Chances are you are quite familiar with these in life, whether you recognise them in your own actions or those of others.
What is Cognitive Dissonance?
Cognitive Dissonance is the mental discomfort arising when our actions, beliefs, or values conflict. It’s that uneasy feeling, like when torn between job offers or guilt for not meeting personal standards. Simply put, it is the uncomfortable feeling when what you usually think about something does not align with your behaviour.
Example: Imagine craving a healthy lifestyle but indulging in junk food – the conflict creates discomfort, leading to cognitive dissonance.
The Role of Cognitive Biases
Cognitive Biases are mental shortcuts influencing decision-making, and come in all sorts of forms. They simplify complex tasks but can lead to errors in judgment. Like cognitive dissonance, we can work on our general aware of these, but they do seem to go part and parcel with simply being a human being.
Example: Consider the Confirmation Bias – favoring information that aligns with existing beliefs, like thinking all cats are aloof. Say you have this impression of a friend’s cat, when really they are still sussing you out to figure out your potential to enthusiastically perform nose scritchies.
Connecting the Dots: Cognitive Dissonance and Biases
So how do cognitive dissonance and cognitive biases go together? Picture cognitive biases as a psychological tool to ease the discomfort of cognitive dissonance – a coping mechanism. Trying to balance a love for donuts with health awareness can creates cognitive dissonance. The ways you reason and justify with yourself “excuses” that things are okay to enjoy your donut this time because you have been more physically active recently and have been working really hard at your job so you deserve a treat. Employing confirmation bias justifies unhealthy choices, reducing discomfort.
Signs of Cognitive Dissonance
How do you know you may be falling victim to cognitive dissonance? There are several indicators that include discomfort before making a decision, guilt over past choices, hiding decisions from others, justifying behavior, and acting under social pressure as signs of cognitive dissonance.
Example: Choosing between a slice of chocolate cake and a salad for lunch – the conflict between tasty desire and health is a classic cognitive dissonance scenario.
The Importance of Awareness
What is the key take-away about learning about cognitive dissonance and their counterpart cognitive biases? Understanding cognitive dissonance and biases isn’t just about terminology; it’s about self-awareness. Being able to recognise both these phenomena aids thoughtful decision-making. And who doesn’t want to make better and wiser decisions?
As we wrap up this exploration, remember that cognitive dissonance and biases are integral parts of our daily lives. Being aware of them empowers us to make decisions aligned with our true values and beliefs, and perhaps feel a little less uncomfy.
