Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort of holding two or more beliefs that conflict with each other. It appears notably in trying to hold to traditional belief systems in the face of the fear of death (see terror management). More recent rationalizations, such as scientific materialism and humanism, also create dissonance when used in management of existential terror. Terror management that relies on irrational beliefs—needing to believe the unbelievable—requires psychological support from the largest possible group of other people. Cognitive dissonance may have undermined faith irreparably.1 For all these reasons, cognitive dissonance is a major source of dukkha, stress & suffering. It contributes to ignorance (avijjā, subconsciousless willful ignorance of the real nature of human experience), since without training we fall back on habits of distracting ourselves with sense pleasure, & craving for views (sets of ideas; diṭṭhi-taṇhā). By reinforcing unwholesome habits of thought, cognitive dissonance plays a key role in kamma, influencing future behavior. While Gotama does not teach cognitive dissonance under such a term, it is seen in his teachings about not clinging to views.2
avijjā • culture • dukkha • kamma • religion • sci-tech-mat • sacred • terror management
- See Festinger, et. al, & Becker, Escape from Evil, & Gray, Straw Dogs ↩
- See the Brahmajāla Sutta, for instance. Here is the Brahmajala Sutta at Sutta Central.