Cognitive Dissonance = Excuses Excuses All repukes have are Excuses

[proud patriot]

Examples of Cognitive Dissonance
Jones and Gerard give two examples that can explained by cognitive dissonance theory. (ibid., at p. 43) One is the reaction of a religious group whose prophecy fails to come true. Research (ibid., at p. 22 ff.) has shown that if a group predicts, say, the end of the world, and at the appointed time the world does not end, the group responds to this failure of the prophecy by suggesting that their activity warded off the anticipated apocalypse, and begins to proselytize on the grounds that theirs is the effective belief system for warding off such disaster. One might have thought that failure of the prophecy would suggest that the group could not predict. But such an interpretation would produce dissonance with the group's strongest beliefs. On the other hand, the interpretation that they had successfully warded off the disaster does not produce such dissonance with their belief system.

Another example: "severe initiation leads to liking." (ibid., at p. 43) Research has shown that people exhibit greater liking of an organization that subjects them to severe initiation than to one that subjects them only to a mild initiation. This result can be explained by cognitive dissonance theory. There is conflict between the negative affect that the person experiences in response to the initiation, since the person has chosen to go through the initiation to gain entrance to the organization. This conflict produces discomfort and tension. The person can resolve this tension by justifying the initiation as "worth it" because of the positive things he or she will gain from the benefits of membership. The more effort put into the justification process, the more attachment the person has to the organization. The more difficult the initiation, the greater the need for justification. Thus the stronger the commitment to the organization.

Other examples on the site: Perceiving Racism

(snip)


http://www.habermas.org/cncgndis.htm
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Lately all I'm hearing from repukes is one Excuse
after another to justify in their minds their
support for someone that goes against core
Conservative Values .

[G_j]

1. it's definately a factor

in human behavior in general, but many republicans have certainly elevated it to an art. Where some people will take pause for self examination, others carry the problem even further into fantasy land. Environmental policies are one prime example of republican denial of reality.

[Skittles]

2. YUP

they have excuses for everything. Listen to Rush - why, he's not a junkie, he was IN PAIN. Excuse me, but that's what makes most junkies - physical pain or emotional pain.