Cognitive Dissonance Reduction in Relation to Grade Point Average, but Not to Intelligence

Abstract: Cognitive dissonance (CD) is the discomfort that occurs when two opposing beliefs are held simultaneously. When this conflict arises, one of the opposing beliefs must be altered or dropped in order to reduce the discomfort. The current study examined the relationship between cognitive dissonance and intelligence (using vocabulary subtest scores of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised IV; WAIS-R IV) and grade point average (GPA) in 103 college undergraduates. The ratings occurred before and after the exam. In order to induce the cognitive dissonance participants were given low fictitious scores and shown a comparatively greater average. Cognitive dissonance was measured by taking the difference of the participants' fairness ratings of the vocabulary subtest. No relationship existed between WAIS-R IV performance and CD scores (r = .01, ns). However, GPA and CD scores were negatively associated (r = -.29, p Keywords: dissonance, intelligence, GPA, college studentsPeople tend to develop a feeling of discomfort when they possess two beliefs that are in opposition (Elliot & Devine, 1994). This internal conflict is referred to as cognitive dissonance (CD; Festinger, 1957). CD is a common occurrence for people and it arises in a multitude of situations. For example, a man and a woman are dating and they have decided they would like to get married and have kids. During their discussion of future plans the man says he was raised religiously and believes the kids should be brought up with the beliefs he was taught. The woman says she was raised without religion and she turned out fine so she thinks the kids should be brought up without any religious beliefs. The man and the woman are both experiencing a cognitive dissonance in which the desires and conflicts are:The Man:1. Wants to marry and have children with the woman he is dating.2. Wants to raise his children with the religious beliefs he was taught.The Woman:1. Wants to marry and have children with the man she is dating.2. Wants to raise her children without any religious beliefs.Cognitive dissonance must be resolved in some way and in this situation the man and woman must either end the relationship or greatly decrease their personal importance of how their children will be raised. CD is more commonly observed among smaller situations that conflict with the idea that people believe they are intelligent (Kneer, Glock, & Rieger, 2012). For example, consider the addiction of smoking. It is common knowledge that smoking results in negative and undesirable health consequences, yet the behavior still conti nues. Each time a per son chooses to smoke they encounter the cognitive dissonance of inflicting self-harm, or not receiving the satisfaction or relieve the craving (Kneer, Glock, & Rieger, 2012).A student who studies for an exam but receives a poor grade may encounter a cognitive dissonance between believing he or she underestim a ted t h e exa m an d actually needed to study more (their own fault), or believing the exam was purposely made to be extremely difficult so students would not h ave good r esult s (som eon e else's/th e professor 's fault). The first choice admits fault and leaves the student having made an unintelligent decision. The second choice places blame on the professor and leaves the student with no fault and therefore having not made an unintelligent decision.Current research has shown that CD affects a variety of experiences including personal responsibility (Cheng & Hsu, 2012), justification (Bendersky & Curhan, 2009), eating disorder prevention (McMillan, Stice, & Rohde, 2011), normative standards (Voisin & Fointiat, 2013), criminal evidence (Ask, Reinhard, Marksteiner, & Granhag, 2011), motive (Gawronski, 2012), perceptions of natural environments (Balcetis & Dunning, 2007), normative standards (Stone & Cooper, 2001), white lies (Argo & Shiv, 2012), and ethics (Barkan, Ayal, Gino, & Ariely, 2012). …