Cognitive Dissonance for Today!

Cognitive Dissonance for Today

Ever wonder how those you don’t agree with can hold those ideas? Remember that people believe in what they agree with. They don’t believe in what they don’t agree with!

Ok! Fine! But how can they believe in all that nonsense? How can facts be disregarded? One of the ways that this can become a reality for some people is through the definitions of truth—it is subjective to some—and in the way cognitive dissonance affects the individual and the collective human.

Let’s consider cognitive dissonance:

Cognitive dissonance is a mouthful that has an upsetting meaning. The basis of cognitive dissonance is dealing with inconsistencies. We all face that daily. It is normal for inconsistencies to upset us. Everyone tries to limit the inconsistencies in their life and restore cognitive consonance: i.e. consistency!

When we confront cognitive dissonance in our life, it is unnerving. We have a belief or an attitude that we have invested in. We then encounter conflicting information or events. The result: Cognitive dissonance. Cognitively we believe or have attached to a certain idea or behavior. We encounter dissonance when information is presented or enters our world. It throws that belief, attitude, or behavior into question.

We are forced to look at our preconceived idea and examine it. This may be encountered in many situations. We may be asked to do or believe something that counters a deeply held conviction.

We may have engaged in behaviors that have formed and been adhered to for years. New information call that into question. What to do? Cognitive dissonance looms large. It is an uncomfortable position to consider.

When dealing with the world at large, we take a position, and often declare it publicly. How do we feel and “look” if considering the new information, we change our position? When new facts make previously held positions impossible, we are embarrassed, shaken and unsettled. It seems easier to just disregard these “new truths” and stick with our previous position. Cognitive dissonance in this case seems easier to live with. It is better to be thought a fool, than to admit you were wrong and then become the easily fooled fool!

We are often caught in an abyss of cognitive dissonance.

Why is this facing of cognitive dissonance so uncomfortable for us? It demands that choices be made. That alone is challenging. Making a change is not easy to reconcile.

Our natural protection mechanisms come into play when we try to change dissonance into consonance. Rather than changing our behavior or beliefs, we try to reach consistency by just denying that a conflict really exists. This rejection of new information then allows us to maintain previously held ideas, while not recognizing the new facts. What a mess!

F. Scott Fitzgerald:

“The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.”

The rejection of the new and upsetting information allows us to avoid making changes. Rejection promotes a level of internal psychological consistency. We only encounter this denial when we encounter an opposing opinion. We may believe the new information but are unable to alter our position or opinion.

Another often encountered method of avoiding cognitive dissonance is to just debunk the new conflicting information. It protects the previous position. An overt statement is made that the new information is incorrect somehow, and the previous position is maintained. This rejection of data is often based on a statement that new data is suspect due to the motive of the position it supports. The data then becomes devious and malicious, and thereby easily dismissed. It is extremely difficult to dislodge or disprove this rejection.. Presentation of data or of objective truths will do little to make a previously help position amendable to change. Internal conflicts do not come into existence because new data is just someone else’s attempt at manipulation of the data (see the discussion of “spin” that follows)

People who read, watch, and listen only to opinions that support their preconceived ideas are seldom challenged by or question those ideas. The preconceived position is comfortable and what is read, watched or listened to supports it. Once again, we see that people believe in what they agree with. In this situation, people are only listening to what supports what they agree with. There is no reason to question their own thinking. They are not forced to defend their position. No uncomfortable change is required. Of course, denial, debunking and avoidance are being used and clear thinking does not find encouragement.

Violence may be a form of cognitive dissonance when the stakes are high. When a conflicting position cannot be denied, debunked or avoided, elimination at all costs is the only way to approach the agony of cognitive dissonance.

In all of the reactions to cognitive dissonance, the most productive one is: “ Sorry I messed up.” Approaching a situation with an open mind is helpful in the evaluation. Using clear reasoning, being aware of motives and ultimately looking for a middle ground between the conflicting positions is commendable. Some see compromise as a threat to the internal consistency of both. It does however make growth possible. Any unwillingness to admit error and the use of avoidance of new ideas limits grown. Without growth of any kind, there is only death. Perhaps not physical death, but psychological death and rigidity become real possibilities. Without compromise and evaluation, the outcomes could be devastating for all concerned.

Cognitive dissonance is a limiting position when change is viewed as a loss. Cement hard positions limit mental freedom. Hard set positions are like mental prisons. You are locked in. Fear of change and fear of the unknown can limit the potentiality of outcomes.

Since cognitive dissonance is ubiquitous, we encounter it often. Even considering opposing ideas can throw many into a hasty retreat to a ‘safe’ zone.

Now consider the types of truths that come into play when cognitive dissonance knocks at the door—or crashes through the front room window?

In the last few years, we heard a new concept: Alternative facts. This should have been a glaring red-light, long before the blaring siren went off. Alternative facts lead directly to alternative reality. Suddenly a chasm opens!

Putting cognitive dissonance into play, the absorption of alternative facts and the process of accepting alternative reality undermines the basic tenants of truth.

Essential truth is objective. It is based on what IS. It is objective. All the elements of essential truth are agreed upon. It is proven. Some people like to call it science. Some call it hard data. You have heard the phrase” Numbers don’t lie!” Unfortunately, an interpretation of numbers could vary and some will call the interpretations lies.

The entrance of interpretation into essential truth changes its name to relative truth or subjective truth. We also refer to this as SPIN. Alternative facts and alternative reality are a perspective on essential truths and data that supports a specific agenda, motive or position. That is spin.

The individual subjectivity that is used to spin or manipulate data or facts is merely the opinion of the spinner. The hard facts are presented in a way that meets the needs of the opinion holder. The objective is that the facts be presented in such a way as to convince others of their truth. This could ultimately lead us back to cognitive dissonance.

Once a position has been taken and incorporated into a person or group’s persona, it is extremely difficult to dislodge it. Presentation of data or objective truths will do little to change previously held positions for the reasons given above.

Currently in many areas, cognitive dissonance is at play. People are believing what they agree with, and little else. It matters little that their position may conflict with objective truths or even, perhaps especially, with your position! This is not a new situation. It is however a convoluted and challenging one.

Cognitive dissonance, essential, objective and subjective truths, alternative facts and alternative realities are part of the world we live in. Spin is often so severe that we are dizzy and even science is suffering. Approaching objective reality now for what it is, can push us forward to a clearer future.

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Comments? Questions? Expansions? Karenmac1999@hotmail.com

Expanded from July thoughts on Cognitive Dissonance at A Place for the Eye to Rest