Feynman teaching note

Cognitive Dissonance

SubjectPsychology

Area tags

Psychology

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort you feel when you hold two clashing beliefs, or act against what you believe. The mind hates that tension and rushes to relieve it, often by changing a belief rather than the behaviour. Classic example: a smoker knows smoking is harmful (belief) but keeps smoking (action). The clash is uncomfortable. Rather than quit (hard), many resolve it by downplaying the belief: 'my grandfather smoked and lived to 90', 'stress is worse for me anyway'. The striking part is that we often change our minds to justify what we already did, not the other way around. Effort and public commitment intensify this: people who suffer to join a group tend to value it more, because admitting it wasn't worth it would hurt more.

Same topic, fresh practice—does not count as an adaptation.

Practice building on this note. If you publish, it can show “Based on” and add an adaptation.

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Clarity score: 82/100How well you know it: Can use it anywhere

Explain how someone might reduce dissonance after making an expensive purchase they secretly regret.

Doesn't mention Festinger's original experiment.
Could distinguish changing the belief vs adding a new justifying belief.

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