Today, I’m going to talk about a really common thing that happens to everyone: something called “cognitive dissonance.” I had a pretty interesting experience with this recently, and I think it’s a good example to share.
So, here’s what happened. I’ve always considered myself an environmentally conscious person. You know, I recycle, try to conserve water, and all that good stuff. But a few weeks ago, I found myself in a situation that made me question my actions.
I needed to buy a new phone because my old one was totally busted. I was excited about getting the latest model with all the fancy features. I did some research, compared prices, and finally made my purchase online. But then, something hit me.
The Uneasy Feeling
After I clicked “buy,” I started reading articles about the environmental impact of manufacturing smartphones. It turns out that making these devices requires a lot of resources and energy, and it often involves some pretty nasty stuff for the environment. I felt a pang of guilt. Here I was, thinking I was doing my part for the planet, and then I go and buy a new phone that kind of goes against all of that.
This uncomfortable feeling is what psychologists call cognitive dissonance. It’s like there’s a clash between what you believe and what you do. My belief was that I’m eco-friendly, but my action of buying a new phone seemed to contradict that belief.
Dealing with Dissonance
I had a few options to deal with this feeling:
- Change my beliefs: I could have told myself that being environmentally conscious isn’t that important after all.
- Change my actions: I could have canceled the order and tried to fix my old phone or buy a used one.
- Rationalize my actions: This is what I ended up doing. I told myself that I really needed a new phone for work and that I would make sure to recycle my old one properly. I also looked for ways to offset the impact, like donating to an environmental organization.
I also learned that cognitive dissonance is something that kids experience a lot, especially when they’re trying to figure out the rules of the world. For example, they might know they’re not supposed to hit their sibling, but they do it anyway when they’re angry. Then they feel bad because their actions don’t match their beliefs. It’s all part of growing up and learning.
I think it’s important to understand that this whole cognitive dissonance thing is a normal part of being human. It’s like our brains are always trying to make sense of the world, and sometimes things just don’t add up. The key is to recognize when it’s happening and to find healthy ways to deal with it. You know what I mean, you’re doing something that conflict with your own values and you start to feel bad. That’s the feeling. It just happens when you hold two contradictory beliefs at the same time. The theory about this thing was brought up by a guy called Festinger in 1957, so it has been around for a while.
And there’s also a term called “The Cognitive Theory”, which simply focuses on our mental processes. I think it’s an interesting topic to talk about.
In my case, I chose to rationalize my actions, but that might not always be the best solution. Sometimes, it’s better to actually change your behavior to align with your values. It’s all about finding a balance and being honest with yourself.
Anyway, I just wanted to share my little story about cognitive dissonance. It’s something we all experience, and it’s a good reminder to be mindful of our actions and how they relate to our beliefs. Hope that makes sense!
