LEVELS of

CONSCIOUSNESS
Presented by:
Laiza A. Orpiana
BSED – III
Types of Cognitive Dissonance
There are five primary types of cognitive dissonance: post-decisional
dissonance, dissonance from wanting something we can’t have, dissonance
due to inconsistency between attitude and behavior, dissonance due to
inadequate justification, and dissonance due to inconsistency between
commitment and information. People invested in a given perspective shall—
when confronted with contrary evidence—expend great effort to justify
retaining the challenged perspective.
1. Post-Decisional Dissonance
Post-decisional dissonance occurs after making a decision that is
irrevocable, or that would be very difficult to reverse. This type of cognitive
dissonance occurs in a person faced with a difficult decision when there always
exist aspects of the rejected-object that appeal to the chooser. The action of
deciding provokes the psychological dissonance consequent to choosing X
instead of Y, despite little difference between X and Y; the decision “I chose X”
is dissonant with the cognition that “There are some aspects of Y that I like”.
2. Dissonance that Results from Wanting Something We Can’t Have
With dissonance that results from wanting something we can’t have,
there are things we would like to have that we cannot for any number of
reasons. When the desired “something” is very important, we may have
dissonant cognitions that make us tense and unhappy.
3. Dissonance as a Result of Inconsistencies of Attitude and Behavior
Dissonance as a result of inconsistencies of attitudes and behavior
occurs when there are discrepancies between what we believe and what we
do. This discrepancy makes us uncomfortable and stressed.
4. Dissonance due to Inadequate Justification
Dissonance due to inadequate justification occurs when we invest a
significant amount of time, energy, money, or effort, but we receive little or
nothing in return on the investment. We may feel as if the effort was a waste
or that we were cheated out of our payoff.
5. Dissonance due to Inconsistency between Commitment and Information
Dissonance due to inconsistency between commitment and
information occurs when we commit to a belief, value, or ideal before having
all of the information, or new information contradicts the commitment we
have made to a belief. The contradiction in belief creates tension.