I was wondering if cognitive dissonance is increasing in us lately?

Paco Dennis

Paco Dennis

SF VIP
Location
Mid-Missouri
It is for me. I looked up what causes this...

What Are The Signs You Might Be Experiencing Cognitive Dissonance?
  • General discomfort that has no obvious or clear source.
  • Confusion.
  • Feeling conflicted over a disputed subject matter.
  • People saying you're being a hypocrite.
  • Being aware of conflicting views and/or desires but not know what to do with them.
Am I hyper nervous/sensitive or is anyone else noticed this dis-ease lately?
 

Last edited:
I had to look this up before replying. The best definition I found is: "The term cognitive dissonance is used to describe the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes."

That pretty much describes my feelings about "Paper or Plastic". I feel bad when choosing plastic because it's so bad for the environment, and I feel equally bad for choosing paper because the world needs it's trees. Definitely conflicted!

Just one example.
 

cognitive dissonance​

What does this mean in English? Sounds like "double speak" I'm confused so I can't comment! Guess I have to go back to the University I attended 50 years ago but at my age, I don't want to sit and listen to lectures all day.
 

I was in therapy when COVID hit. My therapist basically said, that everyone is going nuts with isolation issues, etc. etc. etc.

I think the implication was that all mental health issues were being severely exacerbated by COVID, isolation, etc. etc. etc.

She even said other therapists were having big problems.

Personally, I highly recommend therapy. Helps tons. Of course, in my experience, you might have to go through 3 or 5 therapists to find a truly good one.

And I also highly recommend stress reduction work. Meditation, Hatha Yoga relaxation...all that. Not a quick cure-all, but definitely helps.
 
I'm inclined to agree but to me, it all ends in resignation. I just think that I'm too old to make an impact on anything.

JonSR77 said:
I was in therapy when COVID hit. My therapist basically said, that everyone is going nuts with isolation issues, etc. etc. etc.

I think the implication was that all mental health issues were being severely exacerbated by COVID, isolation, etc. etc. etc.

She even said other therapists were having big problems.

Personally, I highly recommend therapy. Helps tons. Of course, in my experience, you might have to go through 3 or 5 therapists to find a truly good one.

And I also highly recommend stress reduction work. Meditation, Hatha Yoga relaxation...all that. Not a quick cure-all, but definitely helps.
Click to expand...

I didn't do well in therapy but I find joy in fun discussions here. It's just me though.
 
Naw, goes all the way back to our Earth creature monkey ancestor days. [swap banana with donut] Most people experience Cognitive Dissonance when an issue involves pleasures (food, sex, drugs, etc) that they don't have adequate self control to deny themselves while understanding to do so has negative consequence.

[thinking internally] Oh I (overweight person) ought eat that yummy frosted sugary donut that tortures me every time I see it on that plate in the kitchen. [a plate that yesterday had 4 donuts]

th
 
Cognitive dissonance isn't a disease, imo. It's just a natural, normal coping mechanism. If it makes a person too uptight and stressed-out, I suppose that's anxiety caused by cognitive dissonance, and it's a good idea to get treatment for anxiety, which would include learning better coping skills but usually just includes being prescribed Xanax or something. Then you're looking at cognitive dissonance, anxiety, and drug dependence, in which case you're a mess.
 
JonSR77 said:
I was in therapy when COVID hit. My therapist basically said, that everyone is going nuts with isolation issues, etc. etc. etc.

I think the implication was that all mental health issues were being severely exacerbated by COVID, isolation, etc. etc. etc.

She even said other therapists were having big problems.

Personally, I highly recommend therapy. Helps tons. Of course, in my experience, you might have to go through 3 or 5 therapists to find a truly good one.

And I also highly recommend stress reduction work. Meditation, Hatha Yoga relaxation...all that. Not a quick cure-all, but definitely helps.
Click to expand...

I am doing these exercises throughout the day, it does relieve the stress/isolation. It is as though "doubts" are the interesting part. I don't remember a time when I was so reluctant to express myself. I know this will change...in time. It is hard for me to imagine/plan any kind of future with all the ^&%$ happening everywhere, and for some reason it all seems like it is going to get worse. I just finished watching a video about this. They see that this current world order is collapsing, all of it, unless mankind has some kind of rebirth and organises the world based on human well being instaed of power/profits. I will be long gone before that dream takes place.
 
I may have some problems, but I don't think cognitive dissonance is one of them. My beliefs, values and attitudes are pretty stable.

If we're talking stress in general, I'm a bit of a cynic. I can see that things are going badly, but I also realize there is virtually nothing I can do about it. Fretting adds no value. So, I will try to make the best of whatever happens and appreciate the good things that still exist.

Disaster can always be just around the corner. It's more productive to just accept that fact, prepare for the worst as well as you can, and move on with our lives.

I live in earthquake country where the big one could happen at any moment.
 
Last edited:
Thank you for sharing this interesting subject, @Paco Dennis
I am going to give it more thought, tomorrow, when I am not as tired, as I am tonight.

It seems like one type or form, of anxiety. We can have more than one at a time, unfortunately.:rolleyes:

One thing I feel certain of at this moment, (even though I admittedly am tired)
is that I would not recommend going to @Murrmurr
as a doctor or therapist. 😅😂

For humor therapy, maybe.;)
But for that, you have all of us!:LOL::giggle::love:
What a bargain, too!:geek:😁
 
JonSR77 said:
I was in therapy when COVID hit. My therapist basically said, that everyone is going nuts with isolation issues, etc. etc. etc.

I think the implication was that all mental health issues were being severely exacerbated by COVID, isolation, etc. etc. etc.

She even said other therapists were having big problems.

Personally, I highly recommend therapy. Helps tons. Of course, in my experience, you might have to go through 3 or 5 therapists to find a truly good one.

And I also highly recommend stress reduction work. Meditation, Hatha Yoga relaxation...all that. Not a quick cure-all, but definitely helps.
Click to expand...
I'm also a big believer in therapy. And yes, Covid has had such an impact on so many. I was speaking with a friend on the West Coast earlier this week who is very social and a real extrovert. I called her because I know she is a major Empath and I wanted to be sure she was okay considering the depressing news we see each day.

She is single and she said that due to isolation from Covid she is no longer interested in meeting or getting together with people. She does have her grown son and grandkids close to her so they are now the focus of her social activities.

We were just getting away from the news about all the deaths from Covid and now every day we see the tragedy in Ukraine. :( It makes me sad but I always have to remember how fortunate we are.
 
caroln said:
"The term cognitive dissonance is used to describe the mental discomfort that results from holding two conflicting beliefs, values, or attitudes."

That pretty much describes my feelings about "Paper or Plastic". I feel bad when choosing plastic because it's so bad for the environment, and I feel equally bad for choosing paper because the world needs it's trees. Definitely conflicted!
Click to expand...
When my wife is out, I eat over the sink

I think she has that cognitive dissonance thing over it
Seems a bit torn when finding out
 
I don't get it. Can't quite get my head wrapped around what this is. In fact most of the comments seem to be grappling with the same confusion. Or am I just Cognitively Dissonanced since I'm confused about the different definitions of it lol? I prefer to believe I'm just not grappling with any beliefs, values, or attitudes.
All I know is I'm basically happy...so I won't worry about it.
 
Last edited:
I think that it's pretty natural to be uncomfortable with inconsistencies, the human mind craves order and wants to make 'sense' of everything. Problem is- not everything is orderly or constant. Many people strive for a seamless, airtight belief system, in order to do that though one would have to judiciously(and accurately) assess all possible cases in order to develop said belief system.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top