Cognitive Dissonance: WHY Americans are in Denial

[janekat]

As requested…. I had mentioned that as a Psych major I have noticed a lot of psychological principles and theories that are being used by the Bush team: Cognitive Dissonance, Propaganda,, Persuasion, “Group Think,” Subliminal Persuasion/Seduction, etc.

Newt Gingrich's "Contract for America" was actually in a textbook as an example of “Propaganda.” The Republican Party uses these tactics very widely. The other party that uses these principles widely is the Green Party. A pretty well-known psychologist who writes about “cognitive dissonance” worked on the Nader campaign.

http://www.lp.org/lpnews/0308/voljuly_rostcheck.html
http://csf.colorado.edu/mail/psn/2000/msg01346.html

On the positive side, people Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” was a positive example of propaganda – so was Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin. In fairness to them – I believe that their writings were “grabbed” by people who wanted to hear a “positive message.”


Cognitive Dissonance
http://www.dmu.ac.uk/~jamesa/learning/dissonance.htm

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological phenomenon which has two major effects on learning:

if someone is called upon to learn something which contradicts what they already think they know — particularly if they are committed to that prior knowledge — they are likely to resist the new learning.

if learning something has been difficult, uncomfortable, or even humiliating enough, people are not likely to admit that the content of what has been learned is not valuable. To do so would be to admit that one has been "had", or "conned".
These weblinks will give a more formal and less idiosyncratic account:


Cognitive Dissonance (L. Festinger)
Overview:
http://tip.psychology.org/festinge.html
According to cognitive dissonance theory, there is a tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions (i.e., beliefs, opinions). When there is an inconsistency between attitudes or behaviors (dissonance), something must change to eliminate the dissonance. In the case of a discrepancy between attitudes and behavior, it is most likely that the attitude will change to accommodate the behavior.

Two factors affect the strength of the dissonance: the number of dissonant beliefs, and the importance attached to each belief. There are three ways to eliminate dissonance: (1) reduce the importance of the dissonant beliefs, (2) add more consonant beliefs that outweigh the dissonant beliefs, or (3) change the dissonant beliefs so that they are no longer inconsistent.

Dissonance occurs most often in situations where an individual must choose between two incompatible beliefs or actions. The greatest dissonance is created when the two alternatives are equally attractive. Furthermore, attitude change is more likely in the direction of less incentive since this results in lower dissonance. In this respect, dissonance theory is contradictory to most behavioral theories which would predict greater attitude change with increased incentive (i.e., reinforcement).

[displacedtexan]

1. those of us who watched the nixon meltdown

understand CD firsthand.

if you weren't there and didn't get to see people wake up to the nixon lies and crimes, i sincerely hope your turn comes...
REALLY SOON!

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

3. As I recall

it took about two years for the mainstream to wake up to Nixon's lies and deceptions...interesting that it's been about two years since Shrub stole office.....

[Mari333]

2. Thanks jane I was hoping to see your post!

:bounce:

[janekat]

4. This is why the Republican Party has been doing so well ....

It is a VERY important thing to understand because I'm convinced that this is why the Republican Party has been doing so well - it's all "smoke and mirrors" and manipulation. We have to fight against this - it is almost to the point of brainwashing.

I order to wake people up in this country, we need to understand why they are turning into sheeps and how we can "wake them up."

I don't know if anyone here would find it interesting.

[Mari333]

5. Its very interesting..I see it every day

I think some people, either by accident, or a twist of fate, or some childhood luck, are embodied to want to seek out truths and think outside the box. Hell, I was raised in a poor family of 6 kids, but something or someone once must have happened to me that made me want to study and learn..No one else in my family ever chose to break outside of the small town thinking, and they are still there.
Why me? why did I end up being the one who said Hey..I dont trust that..Im going to go check out some other ideas..
FirstBorn syndrome? could be.
But I see a lot of people who, because they are terrified of the emotional pain involved, prefer denial..
They will create all kinds of illusions (as does the BFEE) to create any scenario in their mind then face a truth that might bring about emotional pain, or burst their bubble of what they believe.
I am going to go and read more of what you posted. Getting to the roots of why people wont allow new ideas into their lives is a good thread.

[displacedtexan]

6. i have always found it fascinating!

especially stuff, like:

people assume that their bosses actually care about them;

people assume that companies wouldn't sell defective products;

people assume that all of those 'save the children' dollars will actually go to those beautiful, poor children... and that the fathers and brothers of those children don't rape them and sell them to their friends.

remember what happens when we 'assume.'

[janekat]

7. Connections between Moonies, Scientologists & Republicans

another thing I'm looking into is the strong connections between many members of the Republcian party and the Scientologists in Florida AND the moonies. A lot of Republicans attend their meetings and get LOTS of money from them. Arnold Schwarzenneger did some "work" for them.

Poppy Bush has strong connections to the Moonies - has spoken at various meetings. Another thing that some may not know - The Washington Times was founded by Rev. Moon.
http://www.rickross.com/reference/unif/unif162.html

[displacedtexan]

11. good point!

people have generally known about the moonie times for several years, but the 'end justifying the means' has somehow kicked in.
if repukes are 'one issue voters,' they will rationalize the rest, in order to get what they need... or want (in the case of greed). for example, it's ok (according to some) to rape the environment as long as women don't have control over the sacred sperm.

[Resistance Is Futile]

16. One big happy family of crooks

The Moonies also have a close working relationship with the CIA and a charming bunch of thugs known as the World Anticommunist League.

http://www.publiceye.org/research/Group_Watch/Entries-129.htm

[Solomon]

24. And don't forget about all those

"Left Behind" books written by those moonie authors.

[Ilsa]

8. Great thread, Jane.

I think the early Reagan days of materialism and greed convinced some people that they also belonged in this "elitist" party. Suddenly, growing up middle class wasn't good enough, and they instantly became Republican elitists, even though they had no wealth, just debt 100% secured by all their assets.

Being a Republican was like keeping up with the Joneses; party affiliation became as showy as driving a Beamer or Mercedes. They are sucked in, and can't admit they are wrong, so they stick to it, even though it is destined to bankrupt their children's college funds and future.

[Solomon]

25. The reason for the republican "boom" in the 1980's to today is

because when efforts were made to include non-whites in the pie, all of a sudden, those previously favored by the system now perceive that the pie is limited. Before then the pie was unlimited - sky's the limit. Well not anymore. Not if you have to really include everyone .

Thus the reason for the meaness, stinginess, greediness, arrogance, ignorance, etc. being exhibited by americans right now. Its the reason why we are murdering Iraqis and stealing their oil.

Nope. There just ain't enough resources for everyone, AND the white folks. Something's got to be done.

[janekat]

9. I'll try to dig up some more stuff....will post it later n/t

[TacticalPeek]

10. Forget who, but last night or today, a guy on cable talk tv

said that Frank Luntz, repuke pollster, had worked up some 'correct terminology' to memo around to the gang. 'Nice' points, seen by the public in the way repukes desire, similar to Luntz' suggestions for Newt's Contract on America.

The only one I remember off-hand was an instruction to not refer to "global warming" which is perceived as dangerous, but to "climate change" which sounds natural, like something you'd find in the organic section at the grocer's. aWol has been loading his speech with them, others to follow.

Wish someone could get that memo and post it here. You've got to arm yourself against this crap, or risk falling into language traps.

[displacedtexan]

12. whoever frames the debate...

has already won.
excellent point!

[Ilsa]

13. I believe it was

Clapp on Moyers' NOW, head of National Environmental Trust www.net.org

National Environmental Trust
1200 18th St. NW, Fifth Floor
Washington DC 20036
Phone: (202) 887 - 8800
Fax: (202) 887 - 8877

[TacticalPeek]

17. That's the one.

Luntz is slick. And sick, as in 'how to sucker America'.

One of the worst (non-Clinton) things I've ever heard Tweety say was during a multi-guest, broiling discussion; he said like "Frank, you jump in here, you don't have an ax to grind."

:shrug:

[janekat]

18. very scary - here's the Luntz memo....

AND THEY"RE HAVING THIS GUY HOST A SHOW ON MSNBC!!!!!!
We should expose this guy for what he is to the American Public and scream bloody murder to MSNBC.

http://dailybeacon.utk.edu/article.php/9581

Most people have never heard of Frank Luntz.

He is a Republican media consultant, and he wields enormous influence inside the Beltway. He recently circulated a 200-page memo advising Republicans on every major political issue.

In the document, he unintentionally writes a new language - think of it as a code - that is designed to help Republicans downplay their weaknesses on issues such as civil rights, the environment, social security and healthcare.

His theory is that by using slightly different words, voters will be fooled into believing Republicans are better on those issues than they really are.

[Tansy_Gold]

15. I think it was the guy on Moyers' show last night.

He was from an environmental group. Last name "Capp," IIRC.

[Mairead]

14. A lot of authoritarians, though, are less susceptable to CD

They engage in logic-tight thinking to fend off dissonant thought ('N*gg*rs are all thieves'/'Joe's the most honest man I've ever known')

[Karenina]

19. And it WILL come back to bite 'em in the butt.

I had a great discussion with a friend, American meets German mentality and we concluded, after hashing out SO MANY topics in painful detail (it's the German thought process with which I've become familiar and admire- connected to the language, but THAT is a whole other topic) that the rules are the same as they are on the playground. Ordnung muss sein.
Americans have so lost that concept, witnessed by the deadly violence that accompanies even CHILDRENS' SPORTS. Parents killing each other in front of their children... and for WHAT? Winning is everything? HOW do we even define "winning?"

Polarization is NOT working for us. Those who cannot see the secondary colors in the rainbow are endangering us all...

Authoritarianism HAS NEVER WORKED. Had Wilhelm Reich's writings been properly understood the Holocaust may not have happened...

[Iverson]

20. speaking of denial

It is denial to suppose that the Democratic Party does not also use techniques of propaganda.

If you expect people to see the manipulation in the Bush administration's pathetic attempts to link Iraq to 9-11, then you're also going to have to expect people to see your identical style of linkage between Republicans and Greens.

I expect from these boards more intellectual honesty.

[GreenArrow]

21. congratulations

It's amazing that it took 20 posts for someone to make that extremely obvious point. Sheesh, I see less of CD in the Green's position than in the Democrats. Most Greens have graduated beyond the traditional and increasingly illusory Republican/Democratic dichotomy.

[janekat]

22. Show me an example then... sorry - I don't see it n/t

[Iverson]

23. please clarify

Are you saying that you don't see how you have smeared Greens by placing them in proximity to Republicans as "the other" political party that uses propaganda, or are you saying that you don't see how the Democratic party is like every other political party in that it uses techniques of propaganda?

[noiretextatique]

26. america has always been cognitively dissonant

when you think about it. consider that the "melting pot" myth has always operated in tandem with the "rich, white (male) hegemony as a natural state" myth...two conflicting/competing myths.

[Mairead]

27. Very true. There's that logic-tight thinking again.

Americans are so prideful about being 'rugged individualists' when it's really too often the 'rugged individualism' of the two-year-old who's very brave at exploring and saying no...but wants mommy ready to hand to take care of him.