Document Type

Book Chapter

Publication Date

4-25-2025

Keywords

beliefs, cognitive dissonance, self-concept, social psychology, theories

Disciplines

Developmental Psychology

Abstract

Leon Festinger proposed the theory of cognitive dissonance in 1957, in which he extensively outlined the major derivations of dissonance, consonance, and justification (Festinger & Carlsmith, 1959). In short, cognitive dissonance occurs when one’s actions are inconsistent with previous beliefs about one’s self. The inconsistency in these beliefs creates conflict within the self. For example, an individual may think of herself as a good person, yet she breaks a law. In this example, there is inconsistency between one’s current action and prior beliefs about the self.

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