Cognitive Dissonance: Our Battle With Conflicting Beliefs

The video explores cognitive dissonance, a psychological phenomenon where conflicting ideas cause mental distress. It discusses how people resolve this by altering beliefs to maintain consistency. The video highlights Festinger's study on a cult, showing how members coped with dissonance when their apocalyptic predictions failed. It identifies conditions that make dissonance hard to overcome and concludes by questioning how to change minds.

How do people typically resolve cognitive dissonance when faced with conflicting ideas?

What are some examples of strategies people use to cope with cognitive dissonance?

What is cognitive dissonance and how does it affect our thoughts?

How did Leon Festinger's observations contribute to our understanding of cognitive dissonance?

In what ways can cognitive dissonance lead individuals to believe in conspiracy theories?

What were the two options available to the members of the cult after the predicted disaster did not occur?

What role did social support play in the members' ability to maintain their beliefs?