Cognitive consistency theories have their beginnings in a number of seemingly unrelated research areas eagly and chaiken 1993. This is known as the principle of cognitive consistency. Lord wrote a paper on whether or not the theory of cognitive dissonance was not tested enough and if it was a mistake to accept it into theory. An example of this approach is cognitive dissonance theory festinger 1957. The functional approach \ daniel katz psychoanalytic theory and cognitive dissonance \ irving sarnoff role theory and consistency theory \ vernon l. Consistency is described as the compatibility of many simultaneously transpiring mental processes grawe, 2007, p. In cybernetic language, people seek homeostasis, or balance, and the cognitive system is a primary tool by which this balance is achieved. Cognitive consistency is a psychological theory that proposes that humans are motivated by inconsistencies and a desire to change them. I met my friend, a test pilot who had just completed an aroundtheworld flight by balloon. Specifically, it maintains that the internal balance of beliefs, thoughts, and behavior determines the level of motivation. However, in the 1950s, a flurry of psychological theory incorporated the. According to dissonance theory, selfesteem is threatened by inconsistency. Cognitive dissonance theory psychology oxford bibliographies.
Pdf a revised theory of cognitive consistency jesse. He attended the college of the city of new york and received a b. Because cognitive dissonance is a relatively new theory, there are some that are skeptical of the idea. Festingers theory of cognitive dissonance has been one of the most influential theories in social psychology jones, 1985.
Cognitive dissonance theory an overview sciencedirect topics. Thus, cognitive learning theory is based on the cognitive model of human behavior, i. Cognitive consistency and mass communication t he general notion of consistency underlies all of science. Allen cognitive consistency and the psychology of judgment harry s. It is the notion that phenomena are ordered or consistent that allows predictability. He wrote a book in 1968 titled, theories of cognitive consistency. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Festingers theory is one of a group of cybernetic theories known as consistency theories, all of which begin with the same premise. While rosenbergs theory deals with affect and cognition, festingers theory examines consistency among cognitive elements or beliefs about oneself, behavior, or environment. From the 1950s onward, psychologists have generally assumed that people possess a general need for cognitive consistency whose frustration by an inconsistency elicits negative affect. It suggests that inconsistencies among cognitions i. Cognitive dissonance theory an overview sciencedirect.
Cognitive theories of motivation rely on your thoughts, beliefs, and attitudes to explain your motivation. When the relationship between intrapsychic processes and states are harmonious, there is a state of consistency. I intend to use this book in my graduate course on social cognition. Robert abelson is the founder of the consistency paradigm. Cognitive inconsistencies cause imbalance in individuals and the tension from this imbalance motivates people to alter these inconsistencies. Festingers 1957 cognitive dissonance theory suggests that we have an inner drive to hold all our attitudes and behavior in harmony and avoid disharmony or dissonance. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Allen cognitive consistency and the psychology of judgment \ harry s.
This book is a valuable resource for readers who are interested in attitude formation and change, in particular, and those interested in social psychology and communications, in general. A cognitive dissonance approach avidit acharya, stanford university matthew blackwell, harvard university maya sen, harvard university the standard approach in positive political theory posits that action choices are the consequences of preferences. Click download or read online button to get cognitive consistency book now. Pdf cognitive consistency theory in social psychology. Our main arguments are that a cognitive consistency plays a much more fundamental role for information processing than is commonly assumed in the dissonance literature and b embracing the ubiquitous role of cognitive consistency provides valuable. However, in the 1950s, a flurry of psychological theory incorporated the term, with various applications and improvisations. Affectivecognitive consistency of attitude as a moderator of the job satisfactionperformance relationship requests for copies should be addressed to. The functional approach daniel katz psychoanalytic theory and cognitive dissonance irving sarnoff role theory and consistency theory vernon l. The self as a resource in dissonance processes the perspective that cognitions about the self serve as a. Email citation the most recent account of cognitive consistency theories. Apr 07, 20 psychology definition of consistency theory. One may be driven to achieving balance or consistency in ones beliefs, maintaining stability in. The most famous and widely cited of these theories is cognitive dissonance cdt. In social psychology, consistency theories constitute a body of four theories.
A comment on cognitive consistency theory in social. Psychology the psychological tension that occurs when one holds mutually exclusive beliefs or attitudes. The fundamental thrust of these theories is to enforce mechanisms to reduce. Cognitive consistency theories have their origins in the principles of gestalt psychology, which suggests that people seek to perceive the environment in ways that are simple and coherent kohler 1929. Facultyworkingpapers collegeofcommerceandbusinessadministration universityofillinoisaturbanachampaign february26,1973 cognitiveconsistencyand consumerbehavior bobbyj. Cognitive consistency definition psychology glossary. This volume joins a very small handful of worthy successors to festingers a theory of cognitive dissonance. The principle of cognitive consistency, formulated by jack snyder, explains decisionmaking under stressful conditions.
Pdf from the 1950s onward, psychologists have generally assumed that people possess a general need for cognitive consistency whose. Affective cognitive consistency of attitude as a moderator of the job satisfactionperformance relationship requests for copies should be addressed to. Prominent consistency researchers argued that consistency attainment should be deemed as proactively makingsense ofthe world. Heider1979 argued that the tendency toward balanced states is based on the desire to have our cognitive food prepared so that it is easy to swallow, to assimilate p. Apr 07, 20 psychology definition of affective cognitive consistency. Attitudes and cognitive consistency introduction bertram gawronski. Definition and examples how we are motivated to achieve consistency between thoughts and actions. Ferrell memphis state university this study is an empirical investigation to determine if man agers are consistent in their ethical decision making.
The theory of cognitive dissonance was molded by leon festinger at the beginning of the 1950s. In this blog i would like to take you through the consistency model that we touched on last time and consider how this theoretical model helps us understand psychopathology from a neural perspective. Leon festingers 1957 theory of cognitive dissonance is arguably one of the most significant theories in the history of social psychology. Yet considerable evidence from cognitive social psychology indicates that individuals are often motivated to maintain consistency. Collins dissonance reduction in the behaviorist daryl j. Pdf cognitive consistency in social cognition researchgate.
The most prominent are balance theory, congruity theory, and cognitive dissonance theory. Cognitive consistency of marketing managers in ethical situations. Cognitive consistency as a basic principle of social press. The final chapter deals with the extent to which the motivation for consistency is based upon cognitive or social consideration. Last time in neuropsychotherapy basics we looked at the four basic needs as defined by klaus grawe and based on earlier work by seymour epstein. Cognitive consistency of marketing managers in ethical. Cognitive consistency download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. In their article cognitive consistency theory in social psychology. When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors dissonance, something must change to eliminate the. Upshaw activation theory \ helen peak behavior theory \ barry e. He further stated that dissonance is exclusively caused by discrepancies between. I asked my friend, whom i hadnt seen in five years and who had married in that time. Top 3 theories of attitude with diagram your article library. Snyder contends that decisionmaking under stressful conditions creates a drive toward cognitive consistency and brings into operation tendencies.
Eric ed291647 the principle of cognitive consistency. What is cognitive consistency theory in psychology. Selfconsistency t herapy is about changeor, at least, we hope it is. Upshaw activation theory helen peak behavior theory barry e. Cognitive consistency social psychology iresearchnet. Any of a number of theories of attitude 1 and attitude change according to which people strive to maintain consistency between their cognitions. An alternative to rosenbergs theory is festingers theory of cognitive dissonance festinger, 1957.
Selfconsistency t the american institute for cognitive therapy. Cognitive consistency synonyms, cognitive consistency pronunciation, cognitive consistency translation, english dictionary definition of cognitive consistency. Festingers cognitive dissonance theory 1957, fritz heiders balance. Yet considerable evidence from cognitivesocial psychology indicates that individuals are often motivated to maintain consistency. From the 1950s onward, psychologists have generally assumed that people possess a general need for cognitive consistency, whose. More important, it resurrects, modernizes, and expands cognitive consistency theories in a way that makes a valuable contribution. Selfconsistency t the american institute for cognitive. The number of variations within this approach to selfevaluation regulation is also substantial. Cognitive consistency theories have their beginnings in a number of seemingly unrelated research.
The principle of cognitive consistency and central american. Examples of cognitive consistency in earlier chapters include perceptual judgment section 4. Pdf what is cognitive consistency, and why does it matter. Psychology definition of affectivecognitive consistency. The cognitive consistency theory is a motivational theory that states that tension arising out of conflicting thoughts motivates behavior in an attempt to reduce that tension. In addition, we argue that an application of consistency principles to research comparing explicit and implicit attitude measures can provide. Leon festinger was born in 1919 in new york, new york. Cognitive consistency is one of the earliest concepts associated with social psychology. Predictability, in turn, allows the scientist to formulate and test hypotheses, make generalizations from them, build theory, and predict future outcomes. Cognitive consistency perspectives have also been leveraged to understand 1 the conditions under which explicit and implicit evaluations correlate with one another, 2 when change in one type. What is cognitive consistency, and why does it matter. Cognitive consistency helps to organize our thoughts, experiences and behavior in a way totally different from the guiding principle of rationality in economics. Almost half a century ago social psychologist leon festinger developed the cognitive dissonance theory festinger, 1957.
Self consistency t herapy is about changeor, at least, we hope it is. Thus, an organism applies this cognition in learning which. Cognitive dissonance a cognitive theory of motivation. The theorists of cognitive consistency often record three most significant schools of thought the heiders balance theory 1946 and 1958, osgood and tanennenbaums congruity theory 1955, and festingers cognitive dissonance theory 1957. Cognitive dissonance tends to measure attitude change after participant has performed a counterattitudinal behavior 2. Cognitive consistency of marketing managers in ethical situations john fraedrich southern illinois university at carbondale o. According to selfperception theory cog diss findings may be reinterpreted as people reporting selfperceptions i. Cognitive consistency and cognitive dissonance life issues. Fritz heider is typically credited with first noting, in 1946, the concept within social psychological theory.
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