Psychology 2070A/B Lecture 5: Lecture #5 - attitude change.docx

• School: Western University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: Psychology 2070A/B
• Professor: James M Olson

Document Summary

How can we reduce dissonance? (1) change one of the dissonant cognitions you can change either behavior or values: change behavior so the behavior becomes consistent with a good behaviour. My important political science essay is due in 2 weeks; i have not started my essay. Change to: i am working on my essay: change belief done when you can"t or don"t want to change your behavior. Chocolate cake is unhealthy; i ate 3 pieces of chocolate cake. Change to: chocolate cake is okay for my health (2) add new consonant cognitions done when you can"t change either dissonant cognitions: example: smoking cigarettes is unhealthy, i smoke cigarettes. So add: smoking cigarettes relaxes me or keeps my weight down rationalize behaviour: i worked hard on a political campaign; my candidate did not get elected. So add: i met some great people: this doesn"t get rid of the dissonance but it reduces it so you don"t feel as bad.