Cognitive Dissonance Research Articles

Phenomena of “monroism” and “cognitive dissonances”

Phenomena of “monroism” and “cognitive dissonances”

Cognitive and preference disparities of Chinese consumers regarding the disclosure of unsafe food recall information

IntroductionInformation disclosure is important in promoting unsafe food recalls and reducing potential food safety risks. However, the governance of unsafe food recall information in China is distorted, leading to cognitive dissonance in Chinese consumers’ perceptions of unsafe food recall information. Focusing on consumers’ search and cognitive costs, this study suggests that market regulators should proactively and fully disclose unsafe food recall information to satisfy consumers’ needs and preferences for recall information, thereby optimizing consumer perceptions and facilitating the improvement of the information governance system for unsafe food recalls.MethodsThis study administered a survey via a discrete choice experiment to obtain data from 1,010 consumers in China and employed multiple linear regression (MLR) to analyze the overall cognition and preferences of consumers regarding food recall information and identify differences in cognition and preferences regarding unsafe food recall information.ResultsChinese consumers experience cognitive dissonance regarding food recall information, and their utility can be improved through disclosure. They expressed preferences for recall information about food shops and distribution markets, more visualized hazard content, and new media presentations. Those who had purchased unsafe food, families with pregnant women or children, and those with more education were more concerned about recall information. Consumers’ information preferences also show a bystander mentality; however, consumers with higher educational levels are more altruistic.DiscussionThe results suggest that personalized, intuitive, and cognitively matched recall information can reduce consumers’ search and cognitive costs and increase their utility. This finding provides a reference and practical basis for establishing a food safety information governance system in China.

Brand Avoidance in Local Businesses: The Interplay between Symbolic Incongruence and Negative Emotions

This paper discusses a research gap that is related to the influence of symbolic incongruence on brand avoidance in cases of businesses that associate with Korean Flower Men. Previously, research has studied the influence of “dislike emotion” to brand avoidance, yet a limited effort has been dedicated to exploring the phenomenon in the context of symbolic incongruence. This is particularly true with regards to the impact of Korean culture on local businesses. This research aims to deliver decision making insights for businesses that wish to leverage the influence of Korean culture within their marketing tactics by applying the Social Identity Theory, Cognitive Dissonance Theory, and Psychological Reactance Theory. Online surveys were used to gather 226 valid responses which were analysed using the PLS – SEM statistical tool to study the relationships between brand – specific symbolic incongruence and negative emotions. The results show that all negative emotion dimensions, excluding anger, significantly mediated the relationship between symbolic incongruence and brand avoidance with a mediation value of 0.620. The limitations of this study is due to the constraints of non – probability sampling methods. Future research would benefit from studying this phenomenon cross – culturally. Furthermore, this research contributes to the current literature by studying brand avoidance in the more modern context of the Korean Wave. Practically, this study shows that it is crucial for local businesses to ensure that their target market is symbolically aligned with Korean Flower Men traits, prior to any advances towards collaborations with Korean male artists.

White Emotion and White Scopophilia: The Myth of Docile and Brute Blacks

This article investigates the resilience of the docility and brutality myths attributed to African Americans as demonstrated by three fairly recent film renditions. The focus is on the historical origins and the continued relevance of these tropes through white scopophilia and cognitive dissonance. The myths are analyzed in terms of their role in justifying racial hierarchies and reinforcing white supremacy within historical and contemporary contexts. Through a critical examination of historical texts by Lerone Bennett Jr. and portrayals in films such as Django Unchained and Twelve Years a Slave, the study demonstrates how these stereotypes are alternately emphasized or diminished to maintain white dominance. It argues that white America constructs African American identities with a strategic oscillation between docility and brutality to sustain control and alleviate white guilt. This manipulation is facilitated by psychological mechanisms that allow white individuals to hold contradictory beliefs about race without recognizing their inconsistencies. By detailing the dynamic usage of these myths, the article highlights how they are not static, but are strategically deployed to reaffirm white moral and authoritative supremacy as needed. The conclusion calls for a critical reassessment of racial representations in media and historical narratives to disrupt these enduring racial myths.

Transformation of the Archetype: A Return to Fairy Tale

The paper is devoted to the study of archetypal images in the genre of literary fairy tales. Any author's work has a certain set of archetypal images that have their own special national meaning. Each image has its own specific functions that embody artistic, emotional, psychological, social and philosophical tasks. These tasks form the author's final vision when choosing a particular image. One of such bright and frequent images in folklore studies, which transferred to the literary fairy tale is the image of a young neophyte, a boy or a girl. A boy often personified in the image of a bald - Tazsha, which has been successfully transformed into the genre of a literary fairy tale. In the same way, the images of animals, which are the first characters in fairy tales as a whole, and the analogue of their visions have often been and still are indicative. Also, the article discusses the genre features of the folklore fairy tale, which have preserved and left their mark on modern fairy tale texts. The author's thinking operates with the collective consciousness, reflected in archetypal images and motifs, and the consciousness of the reader, reflecting cognitive dissonance. The methodology of the research involves the continuity of scientific approaches, as well as the use of traditional and innovative methods of literary analysis: content analysis, comparative typological method, mythopoetics and psychoanalysis.

The challenges of being imperfect: how do judges and prosecutors deal with sentencing disparity

Legal decision-making aspires to be objective, a principle regarded as foundational to justice, public trust, and the legitimacy of legal outcomes. However, this ideal is often challenged by the reality of human judgment, which is influenced by subjective factors such as emotions, biases, and varying cognitive strategies. This paper investigates the psychological challenges faced by legal professionals in the context of sentencing, drawing on data from studies involving judges and prosecutors in Slovenia. Through workshops, interviews, and focus groups, the research highlights substantial inconsistencies in sentencing practices, even for similar offences. These disparities reveal the limits of objectivity within the judicial process, prompting legal professionals to reflect on the systemic and individual factors driving variability. The analysis focuses on how judges and prosecutors react to these discrepancies, examining a range of emotional and psychological responses—including the rationalization of decisions, the pursuit of consistency through personal “sentencing codes,” and reliance on collegial input to cope with the absence of formal guidelines. The analysis draws on concepts from cognitive dissonance theory, deliberate ignorance, emotional labour, and personality types to explore how professionals reconcile the ideal of objectivity with the imperfections of human judgment. It highlights the profound emotional toll that discrepancies in sentencing can take on decision-makers and how these emotional reactions influence their professional identity and approach to justice. By contextualising these findings within the sociology of emotions, this paper emphasises how the emotional realities of legal professionals shape their responses to perceived failures and impact their capacity to deliver justice. Ultimately, this study aims to foster a deeper understanding of the human aspects of judicial decision-making, underscoring the need for systemic reforms to mitigate disparities, provide support, and promote consistency in sentencing practices.

Governing authority through bureaucracy: conflicts over bureaucratic cadres and the rise of authoritarianism in the late Ottoman Empire (1908–1913)

ABSTRACT This article presents a historical analysis of how internal power struggles and conflicts among state actors can foster the development of authoritarian systems, particularly when a political network gains exclusive control over the bureaucratic apparatus through its authority over appointments and dismissals. Focusing on the intricate power struggles and factional rivalries surrounding gubernatorial appointments between 1908 and 1913, this article aims to provide an alternative approach to understanding how the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) became the dominant governing force within the state apparatus, enabling it to pursue an authoritarian agenda.

UAV Swarm Rounding Strategy Based on Deep Reinforcement Learning Goal Consistency with Multi-Head Soft Attention Algorithm

Aiming at the problem of target rounding by UAV swarms in complex environments, this paper proposes a goal consistency reinforcement learning approach based on multi-head soft attention (GCMSA). Firstly, in order to make the model closer to reality, the reward function when the target is at different positions and the target escape strategy are set, respectively. Then, the Multi-head soft attention module is used to promote the information cognition of the target among the UAVs, so that the UAVs can complete the target roundup more smoothly. Finally, in the training phase, this paper introduces cognitive dissonance loss to improve the sample utilization. Simulation experiments show that GCMSA is able to obtain a higher task success rate and is significantly better than MADDPG in terms of algorithm performance.

“It’s safer to believe that others don’t like me” – A qualitative study on the paradoxical value of negative core beliefs in depression

Depression is related to difficulty revising established negative self-beliefs in response to novel positive experiences. This propensity is in some way paradoxical because negative beliefs usually have many obvious negative consequences for the individual (e.g., feeling upset). Using a qualitative approach, the present study sought to explore what makes such negative self-beliefs valuable from the patients’ perspectives. In 14 patients with major depression, we conducted semi-structured interviews that explored the perceived benefits of retaining an individually specified negative core belief as well as the perceived costs of changing it. In a deductive-inductive approach based on a recent theoretical model of the value of beliefs, we found eight themes that may explain why people with depression uphold negative beliefs (intercoder agreement: κ=.81): expectation management, certainty and control, avoiding cognitive dissonance, adaptivity in the past, protection of higher values, attachment and belonging, saving resources, short-term counterevidence. The two most frequently mentioned themes were that retaining negative beliefs helps patients sustain certainty and keep expectations low to prevent future disappointments. While previous research has advanced the understanding of how (i.e., through which mechanisms) people with depression maintain negative self-beliefs, the present study provides novel insights into why they do so.

Value-behavior inconsistency is robust to promote cooperative behavior in structured populations.

The evolution of cooperation is a theme commonly studied in biology, psychology, sociology, and economics. Mechanisms that promote cooperative behavior in structured populations have been intensively studied. However, individuals' values, specifically, their opinions have been rarely taken into account so far. Inspired by cognition dissonance theory, we assume that individuals pay the cost of guiltiness if the behavior is defection but the opinion deviates from defection, and pay the cost of regret if the behavior is cooperation but the opinion deviates from cooperation. For all general stochastic evolutionary dynamics on arbitrary static networks with multiple opinions, we prove in the weak selection limit that: (i) value-behavior inconsistency cost promotes cooperative behavior if and only if the average cost of regret is less than that of guiltiness; (ii) individuals with value-behavior consistency are more abundant than that with value-behavior inconsistency. This is in contrast with other mechanisms that are at work for cooperation for one population structure but not others. Furthermore, it is also validated on an empirical network and for non-weak selection intensity. The value-behavior inconsistency is thus a robust mechanism to promote cooperative behavior in structured populations. Our results shed light on the importance of the co-evolutionary dynamics of opinion and behavior, which opens an avenue for cooperation.

Consideration of advance directives by emergency physicians in patients with cardiac arrest: a clinical vignettes-based qualitative study

BackgroundEmergency medical services (EMS) must incorporate the patient’s physiologic state and end-of-life wishes when determining whether to initiate and/or continue cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This study aims to describe and analyze the use of advance directives (ADs) in CPR by emergency physicians (EPs).MethodsA qualitative approach using semi-directed interviews was conducted. EPs were confronted with three fictitious clinical situations where they would have to take under their care a young patient with no previous history or treatment, presenting with a cardiac arrest and a do not attempt CPR (DNACPR) order.ResultsTwenty EPs, 10 men and 10 women (mean age 39.7 ± SD 11,21), were included either for individual interviews or a focus group. Without the AD, EPs all declared that they would have started CPR. With the AD, 6 physicians accepted ADs and did nothing, 5 physicians performed a time-limited trial to allow time for collegial discussion, and 9 physicians rejected ADs alone and resuscitated. Inductive analysis of the verbatims identified 4 themes (reflection, assessment of the medical situation, determining the validity of ADs, cognitive dissonance) and the opposability of ADs to medical decisions was the point of divergence within the focus group.ConclusionThis difference seems to be explained by different thought processes, notably concerning two steps: determining the validity of ADs, and the cognitive dissonance induced by the situation. EPs seem to respect ADs in cardiac arrest when determining the validity of ADs can be quick and the physician understands why the AD was written.

A qualitative study of the experiences of patients with prostate cancer when receiving negative genetic results: "I still don't have a grasp of what it all means".

Germline genetic testing has been increasingly conducted for treatment implications in patients with prostate cancer due to the expansion of testing eligibility. Understanding patients' comprehension of genetic results is crucial for establishing effective result disclosure practices. This importance has grown due to the increasing prevalence of negative genetic results being conveyed via electronic communication and by providers without a genetics specialization. This study explores patients with prostate cancer's perceptions of genetic results communication. We analyzed 24 qualitative, semi-structured interviews with patients with prostate cancer at an urban safety-net hospital who had genetic results documented in their medical records. Interview questions focused on patient experiences with genetic referrals, genetic counseling, and genetic result disclosure. Audio recordings were professionally transcribed and analyzed by the study team utilizing an inductive thematic approach to generate themes from recurring codes. Of those who participated, 18 were interviewed in English, 5 in Spanish, and 1 in Haitian Creole. No participants reported having a pathogenic variant identified with genetic testing. Study participants identified a number of gaps in results communication which led to misconceptions regarding hereditary cancer risk. Three themes were generated: (1) Patients desired clear communication about the next steps after genetic testing, (2) Patients commonly experienced cognitive dissonance with negative genetic results given personal and family history of cancer, and (3) Patients felt reassurance from negative genetic results. This research suggests that maintaining conversations between patients and healthcare providers alongside the delivery of negative results assists in patient comprehension. Additionally, it is essential to evaluate the accessibility and appropriateness of notes and results sent to patients. Ultimately, understanding communication barriers in genetic results return is imperative in order to provide high-quality genetic care.

“I Crossed My Own Line, But Here is What I do”: The Moral Transgressions of Sustainable Fashion Consumers and Their Use of Alternating Moral Practices as a Cognitive-Dissonance-Reducing Strategy

AbstractDrawing on the notion of ethical subjectivity (Foucault, in Fruchaud, Lorenzini (eds) Discourse and truth and parrēsia. The University of Chicago Press, 1983; Foucault, in Rabinow (ed) Essential works of Foucault 1954–84, The New Press, 1997), cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, A theory of cognitive dissonance, Stanford University Press, 1957) and transgressive behaviours (Jenks, Transgression, Routledge, 2003), this research addresses the empirical question of how regular consumers of sustainable fashion overcome cognitive dissonance when they transgress their own code of conduct in sustainable fashion consumptionscapes. We utilize a top-down thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, Qual Res Psychol 3:77–101, 2006) of 20 semi-structured existential-phenomenological interviews (Cherrier, in Harrison, Newholm, Shaw (eds) The ethical consumer, SAGE Publications, 2005) and depict a novel, behavioural-level, practice-based cognitive-dissonance-reducing strategy that we term the strategy of alternating moral practices. We demonstrate this dissonance-reducing strategy to be more than just a withdrawal from the value systems attributed to sustainable fashion consumption, either temporary or permanent. Rather, regular consumers of sustainable fashion demonstrate hands-on efforts to find ways of doing that manifest an alternative ethical behaviour. This strategic action is, in turn, held to be enhancing the ethical subjectivities of the consumers. Theoretical discussions of the relationship between these expanded ethical subjectivities and their host consumptionscapes are provided. Using this new approach to understanding transgressive behaviours in the market for sustainable fashion, a range of directions for future research are suggested.

Young adults’ acceptance of data-driven personalized advertising: Privacy and Trust Equilibrium (PATE) model

Purpose This study aims to examine young social media users’ differential acceptance of data-driven ad personalization depending on the types of personal data used, and to propose and test the Privacy and Trust Equilibrium (PATE) model, a new conceptual model developed to explain the intertwined nature of the competing influences of platform-related factors (privacy concern, trust, and privacy fatigue) on acceptance of ad personalization. Design/methodology/approach A survey of 440 Instagram users aged 18–24 in Australia was conducted to examine the relationships between the three factors of the PATE model and acceptance of ad personalization utilizing overt vs covert data collection methods. Findings This study shows the highest level of acceptance for personalization using overtly collected data and the lowest for covert data. The results also support the PATE model, revealing the competing dynamics of how the platform-related factors shape consumers’ acceptance of data-driven ad personalization. Privacy concern discourages Instagram users from accepting personalized ads, while trust encourages them. When the pushing influence of privacy concern and the pulling influence of trust form equilibrium, generating cognitive dissonance, privacy fatigue seems to play a significant role in resolving the dissonance, leading to increased acceptance. Originality/value This study advances the understanding of how concurrent push–pull-resigning factors affect young consumers’ acceptance of data-driven ad personalization practices, expanding the scope of research on data-driven personalized advertising and privacy.

Beyond dissonance: the transformative power of thought analysis in philosophical practice

This paper provides a comprehensive examination of thought analysis as a contemporary practice within philosophical inquiry, exploring its theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, and practical implications. Rooted in classical philosophical traditions yet acutely relevant to modern life, thought analysis—officially conceptualized by Tianqun Pan—serves as a bridge between knowledge and action, addressing the cognitive dissonance that often hinders personal growth and rational decision-making. Through an analysis of historical and recent sources, including case studies from the laboratory of thought analysis at Nanjing University, we investigate whether logical reasoning is an innate human capacity or developed through education and practice, highlighting the importance of fostering logical skills in thought analysis. Ethical considerations, such as trust between analyst and visitor and the principle of value neutrality, are critically examined to underscore the necessity of maintaining visitor autonomy and preventing bias. We explore the relationship between thought analysis and therapeutic practices, emphasizing that while thought analysis is not inherently therapeutic, it possesses qualities that can lead to psychological relief and personal development through the clarification of thought. Comparative analyses with Logic-based Therapy and Logotherapy illustrate the unique position of thought analysis within philosophical practice. By reframing thought analysis as a form of humanistic care rather than clinical therapy, the paper advocates for its role in promoting clear thinking, self-awareness, and ethical living, thereby contributing to individual well-being and social harmony. Ultimately, the study affirms thought analysis as a transformative practice that aligns philosophical inquiry with practical life, empowering individuals to achieve greater coherence between their beliefs and actions.

ОСОБЛИВОСТІ СОЦІАЛІЗАЦІЇ ПІДЛІТКІВ В УМОВАХ ВОЄННОГО СТАНУ В УКРАЇНІ

The article deals with the analysis of the peculiarities of socialisation of adolescents under martial law in Ukraine. It was noted that the socialisation of adolescents is a process of acquiring knowledge, skills, values and social norms necessary for life in the society; it is based on interaction with various agents of socialisation: family, educational institutions, media, peers, cultural and ethnic groups, and the state. The factors of negative influence on the socialisation of adolescents were outlined: lack of basic life resources or understanding of their possible loss, constant fear for their own life and health, as well as for their relatives, violation of the volitional and self-value spheres, cognitive dissonance between experience and reality, etc. Based on the analysis the consequences of the impact on the formation of social qualities of adolescents it was concluded the following: deterioration of communication with others, manifestations of irritability, aggressiveness, anxiety, lack of trust in others, feelings of loneliness, isolation and inferiority, complication of the adaptation process, destruction of the usual picture of the world, etc. It was emphasized the importance of the work of the social and psychological service of the educational institution to create conditions for successful adaptation to new living conditions and ensure their further integration into the social environment. The following areas of socio-pedagogical support for adolescents were singled out: emotional, psycho-social and informational support, development of interpersonal skills, cooperation with parents, support in social adaptation of children who have lost their usual social context due to the war, cooperation with volunteers and public organizations.

Ecoproducts in the Dynamic Era of Digital Communication: A Neuromarketing Study of Users’ Emotional Reactions on Social Media

In the present era, where social media have become a primary tool for interaction between brands and consumers, the importance of emotional reactions triggered by observing public comments is increasingly emphasised. This study analyses how these reactions shape the decision-making process when purchasing eco-friendly products. The aim of this study is to bridge the gap in the analysis of emotional reactions from social media users who are exposed to various unofficial information published on social media while gathering information about eco-products, which can significantly influence their purchasing decisions. The objective is to examine, compare, and evaluate how positive and negative sentiment in user comments affects the perception and value of eco-products amongst other social media users. The findings indicate that posts with positive comments foster increased engagement and a favourable perception of products, while negative comments lead to doubt and frustration. In the neuromarketing experiment, we found that 81.8% of respondents considered the visual design of the eco-product and the ecological brand message attractive, with 63.6% reporting that negative social media comments had a significant impact on their perception of the brand. These results support the hypothesis that emotional reactions to comments are a strong factor in consumer decision-making, suggesting that positive reviews may serve as social proof, while negative comments can cause cognitive dissonance. Through this study, we aim to contribute to a deeper understanding of the dynamics between emotional reactions and the perception of eco-products in the digital communication era, which has significant implications for the marketing strategies of ecological brands.

To what extent is the banking sector devoted to sustainability? A bibliometric and content analysis

AbstractThis research explores the diverse scenario of sustainability in the banking sector, aiming to comprehensively map the existing literature on the subject. It uses a comprehensive literature review methodology, applying bibliometric and content analysis techniques. Based on an analysis of 142 papers, the study traces the trajectory of sustainability in the banking sector, identifying key challenges and unresolved issues. The study not only offers insights into the interplay of sustainable practices but also sheds light on the internal struggles within the banking sector to integrate environmental, social, and governance practices into daily operations. The findings reveal that the main topics related to banking sustainability are sustainability reporting, banking performance, and customer loyalty. Additionally, the research examines the definitions of essential constructs, such as sustainable banking and finance, green banking and finance, exploring overlaps and distinctive characteristics. The findings provide valuable contributions to research by pinpointing critical literature gaps and offering practical insights into a broader sustainability agenda, including its primary challenges.

Black Meta Mode

This paper explores metamodernism traced via the Black Diaspora, providing theoretical foundations, historical context, and visions for its application in contemporary society. Serving as an abridged introduction to the concept of Black Metamodernism, and contextualizing it within the broader metamodern project, I begin with the “Black Metamodernist Manifesto,” outlining core principles and underlining its role as a socio-political movement fostering the integration of cognitive dissonance through diunital, both-and cognition. I posit that Black metamodernism utilizes diunital vision-logic to integrate cognitive differences, offering a pathway to Black Liberation and beyond. I contextualize metamodernism as Black beyond Race, positioning it as a tool for embodiment amidst contemporary societal contradictions. The paper culminates in a call for a Black Metamodern Aesthetic, a culturally functional artistic expression rooted in survival with socio-economic, and geo-political awareness.

“I am sorry for judging you”: conceptualizing sentiment reversal among followers in case of falsely alleged social media influencer transgression

PurposeInfluencer transgressions can disappoint their followers. However, there is a lack of clarity about the effects of a false allegation on an influencer–follower relationship. Drawing from cognitive dissonance and moral reasoning theory, the current study aims to examine how this relationship is shaped across three time periods (before the allegation is leveled, after the allegation is leveled, and when the allegation is found to be baseless).Design/methodology/approachWe study comments posted by followers of two falsely alleged social media influencers (SMI) on their YouTube and Instagram channels. Latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) followed by netnography is used for thematic analysis. LDA is a social media topic modeling method that processes a statistically representative set of words to explain the tone and tenor of qualitative conversations. A sentiment analysis of the comments is done using SentiStrength.FindingsWhen an allegation is leveled initially, the response from followers is overwhelmingly negative toward the influencer owing to moral coupling. However, when the allegations are proven to be false, the followers return to a positive opinion of the influencer, owing to feelings of dissonance and guilt.Practical implicationsThe study contributes to the fields of influencer marketing, cognitive dissonance and moral reasoning. It highlights how endorsers can take advantage of the positive sentiment that arises once an accused SMI’s transgression is proven false.Originality/valueThis study introduces the concept of “Sentiment Reversal,” which is exhibited in the social media space. In this phenomenon, sentiments move from negative to positive toward the falsely accused SMI as they are vindicated of the previous charge.