When Thoughts and Freedom Collide: Understanding Cognitive Dissonance and Reactance in Everyday Life

 

 

In psychology, there are two intriguing concepts that influence our behavior and decisions: cognitive dissonance and reactance. These phenomena are omnipresent and have a significant impact on our daily lives. In this article, we will delve deeper into cognitive dissonance and reactance, using simple examples from everyday life to understand how they work. Specifically, we will explore dogmatic approaches, such as those practiced by some vegans (I am vegan myself) and their effects on others. In the end, you are welcome to decide and reflect on whether dogmatic (or "militant") approaches are truly effective or counterproductive.

What is Cognitive Dissonance? Cognitive dissonance occurs when we experience an internal conflict due to incongruence between our thoughts, opinions, or beliefs. People feel discomfort when they realize they hold contradictory viewpoints or behaviors. This discomfort motivates them to reduce this discrepancy and restore mental harmony. Imagine knowing that healthy eating is essential, yet often opting for unhealthy snacks. Here, cognitive dissonance arises because your belief contradicts your behavior. Further examples of cognitive dissonance follow:

Example 1: Health Behavior Imagine understanding the importance of regular exercise for your health. However, you are a fan of TV show marathons and spend most of your time on the couch. Often, this doesn't feel good, and guilt may set in. You might even experience inner tension. Cognitive dissonance occurs here: your knowledge about healthy behavior clashes with your actual inactivity. To reduce this discrepancy, you could either become more physically active or downplay your knowledge of healthy habits.

Example 2: Environmental Friendliness Suppose you are a strong advocate for environmental protection and waste reduction. Nevertheless, you frequently purchase single-use plastic products and use a lot of plastic packaging. Here, you experience cognitive dissonance because your environmentally friendly belief conflicts with your environmentally harmful actions. You could attempt to lessen this discrepancy by switching to reusable alternatives.

Example 3: Shopping Decisions Imagine making a firm commitment to be more frugal and spend less. Nonetheless, you buy items on sale that you don't actually need. The discomfort you feel afterward is cognitive dissonance. To reduce it, you might rationalize that you could "possibly use these items later" or adjust your purchasing behavior accordingly. Because it's human nature to take the path of least resistance, we often rationalize rather than change our behavior.

Example 4: Smoking A classic example of cognitive dissonance is smoking. Smokers are aware of the health risks, yet they continue to smoke. To alleviate cognitive dissonance, smokers sometimes rationalize their habit by using arguments like "I'll quit when it gets serious."

It becomes clear that Cognitive Dissonance is a fascinating concept that influences our daily lives, often without us noticing. By being conscious of how we attempt to cope with such discrepancies, we can better understand our decision-making processes and behaviors. The examples illustrate that cognitive dissonance is ubiquitous and affects all of us – a reflection of our human nature, which is often marked by internal tensions.

What is Reactance? Reactance occurs when we feel that our freedom or autonomy is threatened. When someone tells us what to do, we often respond with counter-reactions to reclaim our freedom.

Example: Prohibitions and Freedom Imagine you're advised to consume less sugar. If you feel that someone is encroaching on your decision-making freedom, paradoxically, you might develop a stronger craving for sweet treats. Your reaction of consuming more sugar is a form of reactance, arising to defend your freedom.

Example: Prohibitions and Children Imagine you tell your child to tidy their room. The more you insist, the more likely it is that your child will react reluctantly or do the exact opposite. This counter-reaction is a form of reactance, aimed at preserving their own autonomy.

Connection between Cognitive Dissonance and Reactance: Cognitive dissonance and reactance are closely connected. Reactance occurs when we feel that our freedom or autonomy is threatened. This can lead to counter-reactions to regain the perceived lost freedom. Cognitive dissonance can play a role here, as the conflict between one's own beliefs and forced behavior can trigger a reactance response.

Conclusion: Cognitive dissonance and reactance are two captivating psychological concepts intertwined with each other. They help us better understand human behavior when thoughts and freedom collide. By being aware of how these phenomena influence our behavior, we can make more informed decisions and interact more sensitively with others. The interplay between cognitive dissonance and reactance illustrates the profound psychological mechanisms that shape our everyday experiences. Knowledge about cognitive dissonance and reactance is crucial for understanding the effects of dogmatic approaches, as both phenomena are often triggered in such scenarios.

Cognitive Dissonance in Meat Eaters: Suppose a person enjoys eating meat and has done so throughout their life. When confronted with strong arguments and images from the vegan movement highlighting the negative impact of the meat industry on animals and the environment, cognitive dissonance arises. The individual faces a conflict between their desire to eat meat and their awareness of ethical and ecological issues. This discomfort might lead the person to try to reduce this conflict by either ignoring the vegan movement's arguments or actively seeking information that justifies their own stance.

Reactance in Meat Eaters: If the vegan movement strongly advocates for giving up meat due to moral or societal reasons, it can trigger reactance in some meat eaters. The demand is perceived as a restriction of their freedom to eat meat. Consequently, some meat eaters might react by consciously consuming even more meat or dismissing vegan arguments. This reactance serves to defend their autonomy and decision-making freedom regarding their diet.

Interplay of Cognitive Dissonance and Reactance: The cognitive dissonance arising from the discrepancy between personal habits and the potent vegan arguments can amplify the reactance reaction. Due to the internal conflict, meat eaters may intensify their resistance against the vegan movement's arguments to preserve their decision-making freedom and alleviate the discomfort of cognitive dissonance.

In this scenario, the interplay of cognitive dissonance and reactance becomes evident. Understanding these concepts allows us to better grasp the emotional and cognitive mechanisms behind such situations. Cognitive dissonance is accompanied by uncomfortable feelings that seek reduction, often by finding confirming arguments or by actually changing behavior. Reactance emerges from a strong sense of one's autonomy being restricted, leading to intense unpleasant feelings that can be alleviated through contrary behavior.

Now it's your turn: Do you believe that dogmatic approaches can lead people to reconsider their perspectives and thus change their behavior? I'm intrigued to hear your thoughts!

Yours sincerely, SoulDis