Cognitive Dissonance Theory After 50 Years of Development
Abstract
Research and theoretical developments on the theory of cognitive dissonance are reviewed. After considering the self-consistency, self-affirmation, and aversive consequences revisions, the authors review research that has challenged each of the revisions and that supports the original version of the theory. Then, the authors review the action-based model of dissonance, which accepts the original theory's proposal that a sufficient cognitive inconsistency causes dissonance and extends the original theory by proposing why cognitive inconsistency prompts dissonance. Finally, the authors present results from experiments examining predictions derived from the action-based model and neural processes involved in dissonance reduction.
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Cognitive dissonance is fairly common among scam victims who, in denial of their victimization, may become more susceptible to being re-scammed.
“In searching for reasons for underreporting, the current research also revealed that cognitive dissonance (for a summary, see Harmon-Jones and Harmon-Jones 2007) is fairly common among scam victims who, in denial of their victimization, may become more susceptible to being re-scammed.”
From “If We Don’t Listen to Them, We Make Them Lose More than Money:” Exploring Reasons for Underreporting and the Needs of Older Scam Victims (2023) · cites this paper as Harmon-Jones and Harmon-Jones 2007
Cites
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“Some theorists hypothesized that the effects were due to non-motivational, cognitive processes (e.g., Bem, 1972) or impression management concerns (Tedeschi, Schlenker, & Bonoma, 1971).”
BackgroundThe Psychology of Self-Affirmation: Sustaining the Integrity of the Self
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“In addition to the theories noted by Aronson (1992), much research and theory concerned with guilt ( Baumeister, Stillwell, & Heatherton, 1994 ) and self-regulation over prejudiced and other impulses (Amodio et al., 2004) may be understood from the perspective of dissonance.”
BackgroundA Functional-Design Approach to Motivation and Self-Regulation
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Back to the Future of Dissonance Theory: Cognitive Consistency as a Core Motive
Gawronski, B. (2012) · Social Cognition · doi:10.1521/soco.2012.30.6.652 · Cited by 342 · see citing works
Parti, K., & Tahir, F. (2023) · Social Sciences · doi:10.3390/socsci12050264 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
“In searching for reasons for underreporting, the current research also revealed that cognitive dissonance (for a summary, see Harmon-Jones and Harmon-Jones 2007) is fairly common among scam victims who, in denial of their victimization, may become more susceptible to being re-scammed.”
- Authors
- Harmon-Jones, E., & Harmon-Jones, C.
- Affiliations
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Venue
- Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie
- Publisher
- Hogrefe Publishing Group
- Published
- 2007-01
- Volume
- 38
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 7-16
- ISSN
- 0044-3514 (ISSN-L)
- 2235-1477
- OpenAlex
- W2161028505
- Cited by
- 358
- References
- 9
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 31 · 2024: 23 · 2023: 35 · 2022: 31 · 2021: 20 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 29 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 22 · 2016: 15 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 19.13
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- de
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Zeitschrift für Sozialpsychologie (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Social and Intergroup Psychology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Death Anxiety and Social Exclusion
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Psychology of Social Influence
- Keywords
- cognitive dissonance theory, self-consistency, self-affirmation, aversive consequences, cognitive inconsistency, dissonance reduction, neural processes
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