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Psychologist

Leon Festinger

Social Psychology

American social psychologist who originated the theory of cognitive dissonance, proposing that people are motivated to reduce the discomfort of holding conflicting beliefs, values or attitudes.

Facts
Birth Date
1919-05-08 1
Birth Year
1919 1
Death Date
1989-02-11 1
Death Year
1989 1
Nationality / Culture
American 1
Defining Contribution
Originated the theory of cognitive dissonance, showing that people are thinking organisms who actively work to resolve mental inconsistencies rather than passive responders to conditioning. 1
Notable Work
A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance (1957) 1
Connections

Associated With

Cognitive dissonance theory, which Festinger developed, is the standard psychological explanation offered for the effect.

In Branch

Studies Conducted

Source Wikipedia: Cognitive dissonance

Theories and Concepts Developed

Source Wikipedia: Cognitive dissonance
In the Other Atlases
Sources
1. Wikipedia: Leon Festinger
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Cognitive Dissonance section
    The existence of dissonance [or inconsistency], being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance [or consistency].
  • Infobox
    American
  • Career section
    became, by fiat, a social psychologist, and immersed myself in the field with all its difficulties, vaguenesses, and challenges.
Wikipedia: Cognitive dissonance
Wikimedia Foundation
  • Theories and Concepts Developed: Cognitive Dissonance, Originator section
  • Studies Conducted: Festinger and Carlsmith's $1/$20 Experiment
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