Cognitive Dissonance: Reexamining a Pivotal Theory in Psychology / Edition 2

by Eddie Harmon-Jones

Overview

2019 Outstanding Academic Title

What mental process occurs when a person does something she knows is unhealthy? When an honest person tells a "white lie," what happens to his or her sense of integrity? If we must choose between two equally attractive options, why does our value judgement of the options change after the choice has been made?

In 1954 Dr. Leon Festinger first posited a theory of cognitive dissonance to describe the psychological phenomenon that occurs in these situations. In the years since, cognitive dissonance has become a central pillar of psychological theory, as was documented in the first edition of this book.  In this new and fully-updated edition, editor Eddie Harmon-Jones brings the study of cognitive dissonance into the twenty-first century.  Contributors survey recent discoveries about the role dissonance plays in a variety of information processes, as well as connections between dissonance processes and other motivational processes.  Other authors introduce mathematical and action-based models that summarize how dissonance works.  Evidence describing the neural correlates of dissonance are also provided, helping demonstrate the biological foundations of the theory.    

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781433830105
Publisher:	American Psychological Association
Publication date:	03/12/2019
Edition description:	Second Edition
Pages:	303
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x (d)

About the Author

Eddie Harmon-Jones, Ph.D, is a Professor of Psychology at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He received his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Arizona in 1995 and has been teaching at UNSW since 2012. Dr. Harmon-Jones is a well-known expert in the field of social neuroscience, cognitive dissonance, and the motivating aspects of emotions. He is widely published and has earned numerous honors for his contributions to the field. Dr. Harmon-Jones lives in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. Visit http://www.socialemotiveneuroscience.org/, and follow @eddiehj68.

Table of Contents

Contributors vii

Foreword to the First Edition ix

Foreword to the Second Edition xi

Preface xv

1 An Introduction to Cognitive Dissonance Theory and an Overview of Current Perspectives on the Theory Eddie Harmon-Jones Judson Mills 3

I Perspectives Employing the Original Version of the Theory 25

2 Improving the 1957 Version of Dissonance Theory Judson Mills 27

3 A Radical Point of View on Dissonance Theory Jean-Leon Beauvois Robert-Vincent Joule 41

4 Understanding the Motivation Underlying Dissonance Effects: The Action-Based Model Eddie Harmon-Jones Cindy Harmon-Jones 63

5 What Is Cognitive Consistency, and Why Does It Matter? Bertram Gawronski Skylar M. Brannon 91

6 Dissonance Now: How Accessible Discrepancies Moderate Distress and Diverse Defenses Ian McGregor Ian R. Newby-Clark Mark P. Zanna 117

II The Role of the Self in Dissonance 139

7 Dissonance, Hypocrisy, and the Self-Concept Elliot Aronson 141

8 Self-Affirmation Theory: An Update and Appraisal Joshua Aromnson Geoffrey Cohen Paul R. Nail 159

9 In Search of the Motivation for Dissonance Reduction: The Drive to Lessen Aversive Consequences Joel Cooper 175

III Mathematical Models, Neural Activations, and Affective Responses 195

10 Modeling Cognitive Dissonance as a Parallel Constraint Satisfaction Network With Learning Stephen J. Read Brian M. Monroe 197

11 Neural Basis of Cognitive Dissonance Keise Izuma Kou Murayama 227

12 Moving Beyond Attitude Change in the Study of Dissonance-Related Processes: An Update on the Role of Discomfort Patricia G. Devine John M. Tauer Kenneth E. Barron Andrew J. Elliot Kristen M. Vance Eddie Harmon-Jones 247

Appendix A Social Communication and Cognition: A Very Preliminary and Highly Tentative Draft Leon Festinger (1954) 271

Appendix B Reflections on Cognitive Dissonance: 30 Years Later Leon Festinger (1987) 289

Appendix C Historical Note on Festinger's Tests of Dissonance Theory Judson Mills 293

Index 295

About the Editor 303

What People are Saying About This

Kathleen D. Vohs

A fresh look at an evergreen topic, this book is a must-read for those who want a digestible overview or are newly interested in the enduring theory of cognitive dissonance.

Interviews

Cognitive researchers; students in and instructors of cognitive psychology.

Therapists, psychiatrists and other mental health practitioners.

Editorial Reviews

Cognitive Dissonance is a must-read for anyone studying social psychology. Now in its second edition, this work continues to show the utility of Festinger's seminal theory but also modernizes it and, perhaps, expands on it...Highly recommended.

Choice

2019 Outstanding Academic Title

“Cognitive Dissonance is a must-read for anyone studying social psychology. Now in its second edition, this work continues to show the utility of Festinger’s seminal theory but also modernizes it and, perhaps, expands on it…. Highly recommended.” —Choice

From the Publisher