Cognitive Dissonance and the Perception of Natural Environments

doi:10.1111/j.1467-9280.2007.02000.x

Paper

Cognitive Dissonance and the Perception of Natural Environments

Published Oct 1, 2007 · E. Balcetis, David Dunning

Psychological Science

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116

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3

Influential Citations

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Abstract

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.

Non-RCT

Highly Cited

Study Snapshot

Key takeawayResolving cognitive dissonance through high-choice choices leads to perceived less aversive physical environments, suggesting that motivational states extend beyond social judgment into perceptual processes.

PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)

Sample size24

MethodsObservational

OutcomesBody Mass Index projections

ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.

Cognitive Dissonance and the Perception of Natural Environments

References

Citations