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The effects of cognitive dissonance on inappropriate emotional reactions 1
Author(s) -
Behar Lenore B.
Publication year - 1967
Publication title -
journal of personality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.082
H-Index - 144
eISSN - 1467-6494
pISSN - 0022-3506
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1967.tb01444.x
Subject(s) - cognitive dissonance , psychology , cognition , social psychology , psychoanalysis , neuroscience
In most emotionally arousmg situations, the mdividual is usually aware of the cause of his emotional reaction He probably would feel confident that his reaction is justified if it were obvious that the stimulus situation should evoke such a response m most people most of the tnne. However, there may be mstances when an mdividual experiences an emotional reaction that does not seem appropriate for the situation In other words, an mdividual might become aware that his reaction to a certam situation IS different from what is normally expected. In terms of dissonance theory, it might be said m such mstances that the mdividual's awareness of his reaction is dissonant with his appraisal that there might not be adequate reason for such a reaction He might try to reduce such dissonance by dismissmg the importance of his "mappropnate" reaction, perhaps by explammg his reaction on the basis of past expenence For example, the lnappropnateness of bemg fnghtened of a small dog might be dismissed on the grounds that he was bitten by a dog as a child Or the mdividual might try to explam his reaction by attnbutmg it to a general upset state, that is, by saymg "I'm worried about an exam, so everythmg is bothermg me today "