What is cognitive dissonance?

[Rani G2]

Yes, I can google it.....

Just wondering if someone is able to explain it to me in a simple way....

 

[Abstract]

Me basically. :D I was considering renaming myself. Its the state that results when one has conflicting thoughts about what actions to take or beliefs to follow. We expect our beliefs and decisions about action to head in 1 direction only so when that doesn't happen it creates distress. It is also when we are forced to do something that goes against our beliefs. This creates dissonance. We have various ways to attempt to stop/reduce this conflict but it doesn't always work. That's the way I understand it.

 

[Rani G2]

Thanks Abstract. I think I understand....

 

[Friday]

2+ conflicting thoughts.

Dissonance = a terrible sound / arriving from a lack of harmony

Like musical instruments being out of tune with each other causes an Ouch! Cringe! Wrong! response to listeners, cognitive dissonance creates the same Wrong! response in the thinker. Sometimes subtle, but often like a bucket of ice water.

I use it as a tool to break down cognitive distortions & core beliefs I’m not fond of.

 

[Rani G2]

use it as a tool to break down cognitive distortions & core beliefs I’m not fond of.

How Do you Do it exactly?

 

[Sideways]

How Do you Do it exactly?

Me? I go back to my values.

Scenrio: yesterday I’d agreed to meet up with a guy knowing that it was going to be distressing for me. But I’d agreed, and felt compelled to go. My core beliefs from my trauma were very clear that I had to go, that I didn’t have a choice.

At the same time, I’d made a safety contract with my T that I wouldn’t engage in those types of relationships anymore, and that contract made it clear that I wasn’t allowed to go and meet this guy.

Conflict: core beliefs says I have to go, but contract with my T says that would be really damaging and I shouldn’t go.

Assessing my values, I was clear that my contract with my T had more value to me than my agreement with this guy. And my recovery (not engaging in those types of relationships) was more valuable to me than the beliefs taught to me by my abuser.

Result: I didn’t go. And saying that was ‘uncomfortable’ is putting it mildly. But today, I can at least be assured that despite the conflict, I made a choice that was consistent with my beliefs, and in the best interests of my safety and recovery.

Yay!

 

[Rani G2]

Assessing my values, I was clear that my contract with my T had more value to me than my agreement with this guy. And my recovery (not engaging in those types of relationships) was more valuable to me than the beliefs taught to me by my abuser.

Very clear and simple. Thanks Ragdoll Circus

 

[Abstract]

Yay!

Triple yay! :tup::joyful:

 

[flowerapple]

It is like when your beliefs conflict with your actions, so you change your beliefs to fit your actions. For example, a doctor who smokes knows it is wrong to smoke and knows what it can do to his body but he likes smoking. It is easier to change the way we think than to change our actions, it takes less effort. So slowly the doctor begins to question all the evidence out there about smoking being bad, like maybe the study had biases or something. So then he has justification in a sense to smoke. That is basically my understanding of it.

 

[Abstract]

Really like the extra clarity from @Friday and @Sideways Hadn't thought of it as a tool and in a positive context before.

Problem of course is if you don't know which is the right direction or there is no objective right and the different sides of your brain are fighting with each other for long periods of time. Sure a lot of us live there. :rolleyes::confused:

 

[mumstheword]

It can also be a response when confronted with something concrete and immediate that challenges your firmly held beliefs. Our consciousness wrestles to resolve a conflict brought on by evidence that contradicts something we held as true. The conflict between what we are seeing and what we believed creates a state of cognitive dissonance. Some people will try to deny hard evidence to keep their beliefs intact, others will adjust their beliefs to accommodate new evidence, thus resolving the cognitive dissonance.

 

[Freida]

Me? I go back to my values.

Scenrio: yesterday I’d agreed to meet up with a guy knowing that it wa...

That is the best description I have heard yet! Thank you!