Cognitive dissonance in groups: the consequences of disagreement.
As L. Festinger (1957) argued, the social group is a source of cognitive dissonance as well as a vehicle for reducing it. That is, disagreement from others in a group generates dissonance, and subsequent movement toward group consensus reduces this negative tension. The authors conducted 3 studies to demonstrate group-induced dissonance. In the first, students in a group with others who ostensibly disagreed with them experienced greater dissonance discomfort than those in a group with others who agreed. Study 2 demonstrated that standard moderators of dissonance in past research--lack of choice and opportunity to self-affirm, similarly reduced dissonance discomfort generated by group disagreement. In Study 3, the dissonance induced by group disagreement was reduced through a variety of interpersonal strategies to achieve consensus, including persuading others, changing one's own position, and joining an attitudinally congenial group.
Matz
David C
DC
Department of Psychology, Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN 55454, USA. matz@augsburg.edu
Wood
Wendy
W
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001290:Attitude; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D034462:Dissent and Disputes; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D010565:Persuasive Communication; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires