PSYCHOLOGY
psychology
beliefs
behavior
truth
Cognitive Dissonance: The Lies We Tell Ourselves
When our actions contradict our beliefs, we feel mental pain. To fix it, we usually change our beliefs rather than our actions.
Leon Festinger• 5 min read
The Fox and the Grapes
In Aesop's fable, a fox tries to reach some grapes but fails. Instead of admitting failure, he says, "Those grapes were sour anyway."
This is Cognitive Dissonance.
- Belief: "I am smart and capable."
- Reality: "I failed to get the grapes."
- Conflict (Dissonance): "If I am smart, why did I fail?"
- Resolution: "The grapes were bad." (Changing the belief to fit the reality).
Justification
Smokers know smoking kills (Belief), yet they smoke (Action). To reduce the stress of this contradiction, they rationalize: "It helps me relax," or "My grandpa smoked until 90." We are not rational animals; we are rationalizing animals. Watch carefully when you make excuses. Are you really right, or are you just reducing the pain of being wrong?