Cognitive
dissonance is an uncomfortable feeling caused by holding two contradictory
ideas simultaneously.
The "ideas" or "cognitions" in
question may include attitudes and beliefs, and also the awareness of one's
behavior. The theory of cognitive dissonance proposes that people have a
motivational drive to reduce dissonance by changing their attitudes, beliefs,
and behaviors, or by justifying or rationalizing their attitudes, beliefs, and
behaviors.
Dissonance normally occurs when a person
perceives a logical inconsistency among his or her cognitions.
Let’s imagine that someone is forced to do or say publicly
something they privately really don't want to do, dissonance is created between
their cognition (I didn't want to do this) and their behavior (I did it).
Forced compliance occurs when an individual performs an action that is
inconsistent with his or her beliefs.
Now, this cognitive dissonance will have also a great
impact on the social life of the individual affected.
Most probably she or he will became more and more isolated
and loose all his self-esteem.
If the differences between real and proclaimed
convictions grow, the situation will eventually become critical.
It is possible that individuals forced to remain in such
a cognitive dissonance will “lose their minds.”
Even Insanity is possible for some border line
personalities.
