We humans are a complex lot. And the majority of us are only using slightly less than 10% of our brain, and these are the smartest amongst us. Which makes me wonder at the human capacity to rationalize things, form opinions and make decisions. These factors influence our daily lives. As perfect as we want to be, we are still human and hence are not immune to flaws. This leads me to a state where some of us seem to fall into: cognitive dissonance.
In reference to the wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org), cognitive dissonance is a condition first proposed by the psychologist Leon Festinger in 1956, relating to his hypothesis of cognitive consistency.It is basically a state of opposition between cognitions. For the purpose of cognitive consistency theory, cognitions are defined as being an attitude, emotion, belief or value, or even a mixture of these. In brief, the theory of cognitive dissonance holds that contradicting cognitions serve as a driving force that compels the human mind to acquire or invent new thoughts or beliefs, or to modify existing beliefs, so as to minimize the amount of dissonance (conflict) between cognitions.
The main criticism of the cognitive consistency hypothesis is that it is impossible to verify or falsify by experiment. Even so, experiments have been attempted to quantify this hypothetical drive. Opponents of this hypothesis contend that relations between cognitions can be irrelevant or not present, and cite the apparent ability of many human beings to reconcile mutually exclusive or contradictory beliefs with no apparent stress.
Conflicting cognitions: cognitive dissonance
Once two cognitions are held and there is a conflict between them, one falls into a state of cognitive dissonance, an imbalance between cognitions and a psychological state which needs to seek consonance between the two cognitions.
Festinger further proposes that cognitive dissonance is a "negative drive state", a similar psychological tension to hunger and thirst and that people will seek to resolve this tension.
Reduction of cognitive dissonance, Festinger believed, is good because one feels better, and because one can come closer to consonance by eliminating contradictions. On the other hand some of the ways of reduction of cognitive dissonance involve a distortion of the truth, which may cause wrong decisions. The harder way of changing favourable cognitions may in the longer run be better.
When confronted with two belief cognitions that contradict each other, Festinger suggests the dissonance can be resolved by finding and adding a third piece of information relevant to the two beliefs.
[Adapted from en.wikipedia.org]
Why am I explaining all this I wonder? Just hoping that people in general would stop making pre-judgements about other people based solely on their own personal experience. It leads us to make procrustean judgements about other people.In case you are wondering, being procrustean involves imposing stern and inflexible conformity to a preconceived theory or system, in this case based on one's own personal experience.This term originated from the mythical legend of Procrustes who was reputed to tie his victims to an iron bed and then stretch them or cut off their legs to make them fit the bed.
In anycase, I just wish people would try to get to know and understand each other before making false accusations and judgements about each other. We each deserve a clean slate. Sometimes whatever we do that is in the best of intentions are always interpreted as our worst because of peoples procrustean tendencies.
I shall not bore whoever that reads this far into this blog any longer. We shall await my other views on hypocrisy in the next post. Till then wait it anticipation....muahaha...NOT!!
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