When I was about 9 years old my parents and I took a trip to Disney Land in Florida. We spent about a week there. On the last day before we flew out my dad gave me the choice between riding Space Mountain and a few other roller coasters that I liked a lot or going back to the water park which was like a natural spring and had rope swings and all kinds of super fun 9 year old stuff. This was a toughy for me. I had loved both equally, but for different reasons. Inevitably I chose the roller coasters, even though I wanted to do both. At the time, I can remember thinking, "Why would I go back to the water park, when I can swim at home?" This is a perfect example of post-decision dissonance in action. I devalued the water park because I had chosen the roller coasters. The "logical" decision I had made was only logical in that I rid myself of the discomfort and enjoyed the rest of my day at Disney.
Festinger, Leon. (1959). Cognitive consequences of forced compliance. Journal of Abnormal & Social Psychology, 58, 203-210.
Giuliano, Traci. (2010). In class on monday. My Social Psych Notebook, 1, 115-117.
good decision water park water is dirty ;)I was able to avoid cognitive dissonance at Disney Land but only riding on the tea cups and boycotting all the roller coasters.
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