Introduction
Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced when one holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes. It is a well-established concept in social psychology, and has been used to explain a wide range of phenomena, from attitude change to behaviour modification. Recently, a new-look theory of cognitive dissonance has been proposed, which expands the scope of the concept to include a broader range of psychological processes. This article presents an overview of the new-look theory of cognitive dissonance and its implications for psychological research and practice.
Overview of the New-Look Theory of Cognitive Dissonance
The new-look theory of cognitive dissonance (NLTCD) was proposed by psychologist Robert Wicklund in 2017. In this theory, cognitive dissonance is defined as “the experience of feeling mentally uncomfortable when one’s beliefs, attitudes, or behaviours are not in alignment with one another” (Wicklund, 2017, p. 1). NLTCD expands the scope of cognitive dissonance to include more than just the traditional “dissonance-reducing” strategies, such as attitude change or behaviour modification. Instead, NLTCD proposes that cognitive dissonance can be used to explain a wide range of psychological processes, including emotion regulation, self-regulation, and motivation.
NLTCD proposes that cognitive dissonance is a form of psychological tension that can be used to motivate people to take action. This type of tension can be either positive or negative, depending on the context. For example, a person may experience positive psychological tension if they are motivated to do something they enjoy, such as taking an online course to learn a new skill. On the other hand, a person may experience negative psychological tension if they are motivated to do something they do not enjoy, such as taking an exam they are not prepared for.
NLTCD also proposes that cognitive dissonance can be used to explain why people often fail to achieve their goals. This is because, when a person experiences psychological tension, they often become overwhelmed and may give up on their goals before they are able to achieve them.
Implications
The new-look theory of cognitive dissonance has implications for both psychological research and practice. On the research side, NLTCD provides a framework for understanding a wide range of psychological processes, such as emotion regulation and self-regulation. This framework can be used to better understand how people respond to and cope with psychological tension, as well as how they can be motivated to take action.
On the practice side, NLTCD provides a potentially useful tool for clinicians, educators, and other professionals who work with people who are trying to achieve their goals. This tool can be used to help people identify the sources of their psychological tension and develop strategies for coping with it. For example, a clinician may suggest that a client use cognitive reframing to help them reduce their psychological tension and stay motivated to reach their goals.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the new-look theory of cognitive dissonance provides an expanded framework for understanding a wide range of psychological processes. This framework can be used to explain why people often fail to achieve their goals, as well as how they can be motivated to take action. Furthermore, NLTCD has implications for both psychological research and practice, providing a potentially useful tool for clinicians and other professionals who work with people who are trying to achieve their goals.
References
Wicklund, R. (2017). A new look at cognitive dissonance. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 36(3), 1-20.