Double Think and Cognitive Dissonance

Two excerpts from http://changingminds.org/

Doublethink
Doublethink was described by George Orwell as simultaneously holding two conflicting beliefs. Orwell describes it thus:

"The power of holding two contradictory beliefs in one's mind simultaneously, and accepting both of them....To tell deliberate lies while genuinely believing in them, to forget any fact that has become inconvenient, and then, when it becomes necessary again, to draw it back from oblivion for just so long as it is needed, to deny the existence of objective reality and all the while to take account of the reality which one denies — all this is indispensably necessary. Even in using the word doublethink it is necessary to exercise doublethink. For by using the word one admits that one is tampering with reality; by a fresh act of doublethink one erases this knowledge; and so on indefinitely, with the lie always one leap ahead of the truth."
-- George Orwell, Nineteen Eighty-Four

Orwell describes doublespeak as being a part of newspeak, which is the method for control of thought through subtle language. Doublethink adds control that eliminates uncertainty and so the whole belief system seems coherent.

Doublethink is not hypocrisy as the person actually believes in both things, even though they contradict.

Belief systems often contain many beliefs and it is easy for any of these to contradict one another at different levels and in different contexts. People who want to believe in the whole system therefore have to find ways of handling the internal conflicts. They may do this simply by ignoring differences or by rationalizing these. In arguing with others, a typically method is chunking up to a higher level question that defends the whole belief system ('Are you doubting the word of God??').

Doublethink can be considered as a coping mechanism to avoid the discomfort of cognitive dissonance where contradictory beliefs lead to internal tensions.

Cognitive Dissonance

This is the feeling of uncomfortable tension which comes from holding two conflicting thoughts in the mind at the same time.

Dissonance increases with:

·       The importance of the subject to us.

·       How strongly the dissonant thoughts conflict.

·       Our inability to rationalize and explain away the conflict.

Dissonance is often strong when we believe something about ourselves and then do something against that belief. If I believe I am good but do something bad, then the discomfort I feel as a result is cognitive dissonance.

Cognitive dissonance is a very powerful motivator which will often lead us to change one or other of the conflicting belief or action. The discomfort often feels like a tension between the two opposing thoughts. To release the tension we can take one of three actions:

·       Change our behaviour.

·       Justify our behaviour by changing the conflicting cognition.

·       Justify our behaviour by adding new cognitions.

Dissonance is most powerful when it is about our self-image. Feelings of foolishness, immorality and so on (including internal projections during decision-making) are dissonance in action.

If an action has been completed and cannot be undone, then the after-the-fact dissonance compels us to change our beliefs. If beliefs are moved, then the dissonance appears during decision-making, forcing us to take actions we would not have taken before.

Cognitive dissonance appears in virtually all evaluations and decisions and is the central mechanism by which we experience new differences in the world. When we see other people behave differently to our images of them, when we hold any conflicting thoughts, we experience dissonance.

Dissonance increases with the importance and impact of the decision, along with the difficulty of reversing it. Discomfort about making the wrong choice of car is bigger than when choosing a lamp.

Note: Self-Perception Theory gives an alternative view.

Smokers find all kinds of reasons to explain away their unhealthy habit. The alternative is to feel a great deal of dissonance.

Applied CD

Cognitive dissonance is central to many forms of persuasion to change beliefs, values, attitudes and behaviors. The tension can be injected suddenly or allowed to build up over time. People can be moved in many small jumps or one large one.

Explore it within yourself

When you start feeling uncomfortable, stop and see if you can find the inner conflict. Then notice how that came about. 

Try to notice whether you make excuses for it to avoid the feeling, and whether you can quieten those and simply accept it.