Cognitive Dissonance : Reexamining a Pivotal Theory in Psychology

**2019 Outstanding Academic Title** What mental process occurs when a person does something she knows is unhealthy? When an honest person tells a "white lie," what happens to his or her sense of integrity? If we must choose between two equally attractive options, why does our value judgement of the options change after the choice has been made? In 1954 Dr. Leon Festinger first posited a theory of cognitive dissonance to describe the psychological phenomenon that occurs in these situations. In the years since, cognitive dissonance has become a central pillar of psychological theory, as was documented in the first edition of this book. In this new and fully-updated edition, editor Eddie Harmon-Jones brings the study of cognitive dissonance into the twenty-first century. Contributors survey recent discoveries about the role dissonance plays in a variety of information processes, as well as connections between dissonance processes and other motivational processes. Other authors introduce mathematical and action-based models that summarize how dissonance works. Evidence describing the neural correlates of dissonance are also provided, helping demonstrate the biological foundations of the theory. Contents Contributors Foreword to the First Edition Foreword to the Second Edition Preface Chapter 1 An Introduction to Cognitive Dissonance Theory and an Overview of Current Perspectives on the Theory Part I Perspectives Employing the Original Version of the Theory Chapter 2 Improving the 1957 Version of Dissonance Theory Chapter 3 A Radical Point of View on Dissonance Theory Chapter 4 Understanding the Motivation Underlying Dissonance Effects: The Action-Based Model Chapter 5 What Is Cognitive Consistency, and Why Does It Matter? Chapter 6 Dissonance Now: How Accessible Discrepancies Moderate Distress and Diverse Defenses Part II The Role of the Self in Dissonance Chapter 7 Dissonance, Hypocrisy, and the Self-Concept Chapter 8 Self-Affirmation Theory: An Update and Appraisal Chapter 9 In Search of the Motivation for Dissonance Reduction: The Drive to Lessen Aversive Consequences Part III Mathematical Models, Neural Activations, and Affective Responses Chapter 10 Modeling Cognitive Dissonance as a Parallel Constraint Satisfaction Network With Learning Chapter 11 Neural Basis of Cognitive Dissonance Chapter 12 Moving Beyond Attitude Change in the Study of Dissonance-Related Processes: An Update on the Role of Discomfort Appendix A: Social Communication and Cognition: A Very Preliminary and Highly Tentative Draft Appendix B: Reflections on Cognitive Dissonance: 30 Years Later Appendix C: Historical Note on Festinger’s Tests of Dissonance Theory Index About the Editor What mental process occurs when a person does something she knows is unhealthy? When an honest person tells a "white lie," what happens to his or her sense of integrity? If we must choose between two equally attractive options, why does our value judgement of the options change after the choice has been made? In 1954 Dr. Leon Festinger first posited a theory of cognitive dissonance to describe the psychological phenomenon that occurs in these situations. In the years since, cognitive dissonance has become a central pillar of psychological theory, as was documented in the first edition of this book. In this new and fully-updated edition, editor Eddie Harmon-Jones brings the study of cognitive dissonance into the twenty-first century. Contributors survey recent discoveries about the role dissonance plays in a variety of information processes, as well as connections between dissonance processes and other motivational processes. Other authors introduce mathematical and action-based models that summarize how dissonance works. Evidence describing the neural correlates of dissonance are also provided, helping demonstrate the biological foundations of the theory. -- ‡c From publisher's description What mental process occurs when a person does something she knows is unhealthy? When an honest person tells a "white lie," what happens to his or her sense of integrity? If we must choose between two equally attractive options, why does our value judgement of the options change after the choice has been made? In 1954 Dr. Leon Festinger first posited a theory of cognitive dissonance to describe the psychological phenomenon that occurs in these situations. In the years since, cognitive dissonance has become a central pillar of psychological theory, as was documented in the first edition of this book. In this new and fully-updated edition, editor Eddie Harmon-Jones brings the study of cognitive dissonance into the twenty-first century. Contributors survey recent discoveries about the role dissonance plays in a variety of information processes, as well as connections between dissonance processes and other motivational processes. Other authors introduce mathematical and action-based models that summarize how dissonance works. Evidence describing the neural correlates of dissonance are also provided, helping demonstrate the biological foundations of the theory. --Description de l'éditeur This volume describes advances in the theory of cognitive dissonance, from its origination in 1954 to the present day Edited By Eddie Harmon-jones. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.