Self-Distancing as a Buffer to the Effects of Cognitive Dissonance

Authors: Samantha Syracuse, Mark Seery

SUNY Campus: SUNY Buffalo

Presentation Type: Poster

Location: UU 111

Presentation #: 62

Timeslot: Session B 10:15-11:15 AM

Abstract: Cognitive dissonance is a foundational theory in social psychology. One of its central components is that the dissonance state reflects psychological discomfort. Several processes have been shown to reduce this discomfort, but an unexplored dissonance reduction method involves self-distancing. Self-distancing entails adopting an outside observer’s perspective and has been shown to reduce negative emotions. Thus, self-distancing could plausibly disrupt the cognitive dissonance process. I am investigating the novel proposition that self-distancing can serve as a buffer to cognitive dissonance. Students (N = 309) who are strongly against a tuition increase will be randomly assigned to write an essay in first-person or third-person language. The essay topic will be randomly assigned. Students will be encouraged to write a counterattitudinal essay, told the counterattitudinal essay topic was randomly assigned, or will be encouraged to write a neutral essay. Dependent variables will include dissonance-related affect and attitude regarding the tuition increase. I hypothesize that when participants self-immerse, classic dissonance effects will emerge, such that writing a counterattitudinal essay under high choice will lead to higher dissonance-related affect and a more positive attitude regarding the tuition increase, relative to the other essay topics. In contrast, when participants self-distance, I hypothesize that the reduced intensity of negative emotions from self-distancing will act as a buffer to cognitive dissonance and discomfort. Data collection for this project is currently in progress.