Cognitive dissonance and the perception of natural environments.
Two studies demonstrated that the motivation to resolve cognitive dissonance affects the visual perception of physical environments. In Study 1, subjects crossed a campus quadrangle wearing a costume reminiscent of Carmen Miranda. In Study 2, subjects pushed themselves up a hill while kneeling on a skateboard. Subjects performed either task under a high-choice, low-choice, or control condition. Subjects in the high-choice conditions, presumably to resolve dissonance, perceived the environment to be less aversive than did subjects in the low-choice and control conditions, seeing a shorter distance to travel (Study 1) and a shallower slope to climb (Study 2). These studies suggest that the impact of motivational states extends from social judgment down into perceptual processes.
Balcetis
Emily
E
Ohio University, Athens, OH 45701, USA. balcetis@ohio.edu
Dunning
David
D
D002755:Choice Behavior / Q000502:physiology; D003073:Cognitive Dissonance; D004215:Distance Perception / Q000502:physiology; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology*