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Do I Know What I’m Doing? Cognitive Dissonance and Action Identification Theory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 November 2015

Valérie Fointiat  and
Audrey Pelt
Valérie Fointiat*
Affiliation:
Université de Lorraine (France)
Audrey Pelt
Affiliation:
Université de Lorraine (France)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Valérie Fointiat. UFR. SHS Ile du SAULCY. CS 60228. 57045. Metz (France). E-mail: valerie.fointiat@univ-lorraine.fr
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Abstract

Our main purpose was to explore hypotheses derived from the Identification of Action Theory in a particular situation that is, a dissonant situation. Thus, we varied the identification (low versus high-level) of a problematic behavior (to stop speaking for 24 hours) in the forced compliance paradigm. Two modes of dissonance reduction were presented: cognitive rationalization (classical attitude-change) and behavioral rationalization (target behavior: to stop speaking for 48 hours). As predicted, the results showed that high-level identity of action leads to cognitive rationalization whereas low-level identity leads to behavioural rationalization. Thus, participants identifying the problematic behavior at a low-level were more inclined to accept the target behavior, compared with participants identifying their problematic behavior at a higher-level. These results are of particular interest for understanding the extent to which the understanding of the discrepant act interferes with the cognitive processes of dissonance reduction.

Keywords

cognitive dissonanceattitude changebehavioral rationalizationaction identificationforced compliance
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 18 , 2015 , E97
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2015 

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