What Is Cognitive Dissonance, and Why Do We Struggle With It?

In psychology, cognitive dissonance refers to the mental discomfort that arises when we hold conflicting beliefs, act against our values, or encounter evidence that challenges our worldview. In addition to internal tension, this psychological phenomenon often manifests as shame, guilt, embarrassment, or regret.

As we explore what cognitive dissonance is in greater depth, you’ll learn how it shapes your thoughts, what causes it, and how to reduce it. We’ll also explain how it affects different Enneagram types, providing you with personalized insight into yourself.

What Is Cognitive Dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon that occurs when people hold two conflicting values, beliefs, or opinions. It can also happen when our actions don’t align with our beliefs.

In other words, cognitive dissonance is what causes discomfort when our actions contradict what we believe about ourselves, or when we encounter a piece of information that clashes with our pre-existing beliefs.

First introduced by American social psychologist Leon Festinger in 1957, the cognitive dissonance theory explains the intricate connection between behavior and attitudes. As such, it is a critical concept in not only social but also cognitive and behavioral psychology.

How Cognitive Dissonance Affects Our Thoughts

Cognitive dissonance affects our thoughts by inducing psychological stress and discomfort. This drives us to seek ways to reconcile internal inconsistencies, return to a state of consonance, and regain inner harmony.

The mind automatically seeks ways to reduce mental discomfort. However, changing our behavior is often very difficult; as a result, people typically reduce cognitive dissonance by adjusting their attitudes instead. We may, for example, engage in rationalization and reinterpret the situation to justify our behavior, thereby restoring cognitive consonance.

Ultimately, cognitive dissonance alters our perception and interpretation of events and information to resolve cognitive discrepancies. Therefore, we may end up believing something that feels psychologically comforting and consistent, even if it isn’t logical or objective.

Famous Cognitive Dissonance Experiments

The most famous cognitive dissonance experiment, Cognitive consequences of forced compliance, was conducted by Festinger and Carlsmith in 1959.

In this experiment, participants were asked to perform a tedious peg-turning task. They were then instructed to tell the next participant that the task was enjoyable; half of the participants were paid $1 to lie, and the other half received $20. The participants experienced cognitive dissonance because the task was boring in their experience, yet they had to say that it was fun.

Afterwards, their attitude toward peg turning was assessed. Interestingly, the group that received $1 reported liking the task significantly more than the $20 group.

This shows that the mind subconsciously adjusts attitude to reduce psychological discomfort; after all, the $20 group could easily justify lying as a result of this external incentive, whereas the $1 had to convince themselves that they actually enjoyed turning pegs to justify their behavior.

Another cognitive dissonance experiment by Chatzisarantis et al. examined attitude change toward physical exercise. Participants were divided into three groups (free-choice, control/no choice, and forced-choice) and asked to do a boring exercise: stepping on a bench.

Results showed that those under the free-choice condition had the most positive attitude toward the exercise. This happened because their mind sought to reduce discomfort from choosing a boring activity, even though they had the option not to do it, by adjusting their attitude. As such, this study further confirmed Festinger’s theory of cognitive dissonance.

Now that you have a better idea of what cognitive dissonance is and how it affects your thoughts, let’s discuss its main causes.

What Causes Cognitive Dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance is caused by internal conflict that typically stems from exposure to contradictory information, forced compliance, or difficult decision-making.

Here’s a more detailed overview of the main scenarios that lead to this psychological phenomenon:

• Forced compliance. Being compelled to engage in a behavior that goes against our beliefs is a major source of cognitive dissonance. We may experience psychological discomfort if a toxic friend pressures us to act in a particular way, for example. To reduce this discomfort, we may unconsciously adjust our attitude, convincing ourselves that the action is more acceptable or enjoyable than we initially thought.
• Difficult decision-making. There’s a close connection between cognitive dissonance and decision-making, as tough choices often lead to psychological tension. After facing two options that seem equally appealing, we frequently amplify the positives of our chosen option and downplay the benefits of the one we rejected to convince ourselves that we’ve made the right decision. This can also help us cope with other decision-related psychological phenomena, such as buyer’s remorse.
• Exposure to conflicting information. Encountering information or evidence that challenges our existing beliefs, such as political opinions or moral values, often triggers cognitive dissonance. To reduce inner conflict and achieve cognitive consonance, we may dismiss or reinterpret this information, or seek ways to justify our beliefs and actions.

Since you now know what cognitive dissonance is in theory and where it stems from, it’s time to find out how it manifests in real-life scenarios.

Common Examples of Cognitive Dissonance

Below are some examples of cognitive dissonance in everyday life:

• As someone who values a healthy lifestyle, you convince yourself that you deserve a treat when eating sweets or junk food to reduce inner conflict.
• A person who believes staying fit is important rationalizes skipping workouts by telling themselves that they’re too busy to exercise, even though they’re simply too lazy to go to the gym.
• A smoker who knows that cigarettes are bad for them convinces themselves that their risks are exaggerated or hyperbolizes their stress-relieving effects to justify not quitting smoking.

Here’s what cognitive dissonance may look like at work:

• You overemphasize the benefits of your job after deciding to stay in it, even though you hate going to work.
• An employee who views themselves as confident and hardworking ignores constructive criticism because it conflicts with their self-image.
• After performing a task that conflicts with your morals, you reduce psychological discomfort and justify your behavior by telling yourself that everyone has to do it once in a while.

Lastly, here are some common examples of cognitive dissonance in relationships:

• Although your relationship no longer satisfies you, you tell yourself that it’s better than being single to justify staying in it.
• When your partner behaves in a way you deem unacceptable, you downplay the significance of their actions to reduce inner discomfort.
• You convince yourself that a coat your significant other bought is worth the price, even though deep inside you think they made a financially irresponsible decision.

Even if you know what cognitive dissonance is, you may not necessarily identify it immediately, as it is a largely unconscious phenomenon. However, you can recognize it from the internal tension and psychological discomfort it causes.

On this note, let’s discuss the most effective strategies for reducing cognitive dissonance.

How to Reduce Cognitive Dissonance

Developing self-awareness, changing your behavior, and shifting your perspective are the main strategies for reducing cognitive dissonance and restoring inner balance. Although it’s impossible to entirely avoid this psychological phenomenon, these tips can also minimize the likelihood of experiencing cognitive dissonance:

Develop Self-Awareness

Knowing what cognitive dissonance is isn’t enough to overcome it; you also need to know what your values and deeply-held beliefs are. This is because the more a belief or a value means to you, the more likely you are to experience cognitive dissonance when your actions clash with it.

Moreover, self-awareness can help you identify patterns in which you experience cognitive dissonance and how it typically manifests. Keeping a journal where you reflect on your values and record instances of psychological discomfort can be highly beneficial if you often struggle with cognitive dissonance. Journaling can also help you process and resolve internal conflicts.

Change Your Behavior

One of the best ways to reduce and prevent cognitive dissonance is to alter the behavior that causes it. For example, if you experience mental discomfort from avoiding exercise despite valuing fitness and health, it may be a good idea to start incorporating workouts into your daily routine. Start small, as this increases the likelihood of successfully following through.

The more your actions align with your beliefs and values, the less likely you are to experience internal tension. Therefore, you can prevent cognitive dissonance by making decisions that reflect your core values instead of conflicting with them, promoting inner harmony and consistency.

Shift Your Perspective

Adjusting your attitudes, beliefs, and perspectives is often easier than making behavioral changes, making it one of the simplest ways to reduce cognitive dissonance.

After all, your mind automatically looks for ways to reconcile discrepancies in beliefs. This approach is particularly useful when psychological discomfort stems from conflicting beliefs or behavioral change isn’t possible.

For example, if you have to collaborate with a colleague you don’t get along with, remind yourself that you don’t have to befriend them; instead, focus on the shared goal and positive aspects, such as the opportunity to practice patience and refine your ability to deal with difficult people.

Next, let’s discuss the link between the Enneagram and cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive Dissonance and Enneagram Types

Each Enneagram type has distinct fears and motivations that shape how and why they experience cognitive dissonance, as well as how they cope with it.

With this in mind, let’s discuss each type’s most common cognitive dissonance triggers and coping strategies:

Enneagram 1

The principled Enneagram 1 strives for perfection and fears being wrong. As such, Ones most commonly experience cognitive dissonance when their actions fall short of their moral standards.

It usually triggers their inner critic, leading to shame, embarrassment, and self-criticism. They typically cope with it by doubling down on discipline and correcting their behavior.

Enneagram 2

Warm and considerate, Type 2 craves love and deeply fears rejection. Due to their selflessness, Twos often experience cognitive dissonance when they believe they’re acting out of self-interest. Asserting personal boundaries, for example, can make them feel deeply uncomfortable.

Shifting perspective (e.g., realizing that self-care enables them to better support others) is the most effective way for this type to combat cognitive dissonance.

Enneagram 3

Threes yearn for achievement and recognition. They see themselves as productive and worthy of success, so they tend to experience cognitive dissonance when their actions conflict with their self-view (e.g., when they fail to meet their goals or impress others).

To reduce internal conflict, they usually emphasize their achievements or overcompensate by working harder to restore their image.

Enneagram 4

The Enneagram Type 4 values individuality and authenticity above all else, so forced compliance is the main source of cognitive dissonance in this type.

Acting in ways that conflict with their self-perception and values can even cause Fours to question their identity. Reframing the situation to create personal significance typically helps them restore inner balance.

Enneagram 5

Curious and analytical Fives value competence and objectivity, so they usually experience cognitive dissonance upon stumbling across information that contradicts what they already know. They typically resolve cognitive dissonance by learning more about the issue, thereby reconciling conflicting beliefs and reinforcing their self-image of being knowledgeable.

Enneagram 6

The security-oriented Type 6 typically experiences cognitive dissonance when taking risks, which often manifests as anxiety. They usually reduce this internal conflict and discomfort by analyzing potential outcomes and preparing for a worst-case scenario, which aligns with their needs for safety, preparation, and predictability.

Enneagram 7

Sevens crave freedom and are prone to the fear of missing out, so it’s no surprise that their cognitive dissonance typically stems from difficult decision-making. Upon making a choice, they tend to focus on its benefits to feel satisfied about the path they picked instead of struggling with self-doubt and regret.

Enneagram 8

The resourceful and confident Enneagram Type 8 fears losing control of their lives. Therefore, they usually struggle with cognitive dissonance when forced to comply with or rely on others. To overcome internal conflict, they may rationalize their actions or attempt to assert control over the situation.

Enneagram 9

Type 9 yearns for peace and inner harmony, which can make cognitive dissonance hard to bear. They usually experience it due to forced compliance; it’s not uncommon for them to act against their needs and beliefs just to avoid conflict.

They reduce this inner discomfort by quietly justifying their actions and decisions to themselves (e.g., “I’m doing this for the greater good.”).

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Key Takeaways

Now that you know exactly what cognitive dissonance is, it should be easier for you to recognize and reduce it within yourself.

Before you go, let’s summarize the key points we covered today:

• Cognitive dissonance can alter our perception of reality, as the mind is wired to reduce psychological tension.
• This mental phenomenon arises from internal conflict that typically stems from forced compliance, difficult decisions, and exposure to information that challenges our beliefs.
• Becoming aware of your beliefs and values, aligning your behavior with them, and adjusting your perspective can help you reduce cognitive dissonance.

What Is Cognitive Dissonance FAQs

#1. What is the most common cause of cognitive dissonance?

The most common cause of cognitive dissonance is a discrepancy between your values or beliefs and your behavior. Acting in ways that contradict your principles often creates psychological tension, which is why the most effective way to reduce and prevent cognitive dissonance is to act in alignment with your values.

#2. How do you know if you are experiencing cognitive dissonance?

You may be experiencing cognitive dissonance if you struggle with psychological discomfort after acting in a way that contradicts your values and beliefs. It often causes negative emotions, such as guilt, shame, and anxiety. Cognitive dissonance can also cause you to unconsciously rationalize your actions or justify your decisions, which may be difficult to spot.

#3. Is cognitive dissonance a symptom of ADHD?

No, cognitive dissonance is not a symptom of ADHD. It is a psychological phenomenon that can happen to anyone, including those with ADHD, but it is not a diagnostic criterion for this mental disorder. However, ADHD can make you more prone to cognitive dissonance, as impulsivity can cause you to act in ways that conflict with your beliefs or values.