Responding to Cognitive Dissonance - R. K. Compton

Discover something new about yourself through neuroscience-clear insight you can use.

This book includes: practical guidance for managing cognitive dissonance in everyday life; insight into why some people struggle more than others to reconcile conflicting beliefs; structured reflection questions; a clear, step-by-step breakdown of the neuroscience, including its evolutionary roots; and an exploration of its psychology and lived experience.

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​​​​​​​Every year, the zeitgeist latches onto a new psychological buzzword. Five years ago, boundaries were chic. In 2022, gaslighting was word of the year (no, actually). Now, from the depths of the collective psyche, cognitive dissonance is back. In an increasingly polarised world, it's wielded as a weapon to explain why "the other side" just doesn't get it, and sometimes, as a sly way to prop up our own perspective as just too... nuanced for others to understand. Throwing in a psychological term mid-argument has a certain je ne sais quoi, I guess. In this current climate, I felt compelled to write this book

This book invites you to explore cognitive dissonance and the various ways we respond when our beliefs are challenged. Together, we'll explore how prediction, safety, and belief shape our experience, and examine the neuroscience underpinning cognitive dissonance. Along the way, we'll examine why authentic acceptance can be so challenging, and how privilege can influence our responses. We'll discuss splitting as a derivative of binary survival reasoning. Towards the end, you'll find practical tools to help you stay grounded during times of cognitive dissonance. You'll also find questions throughout designed to get you reflecting on your experience.

This book is available in French: La dissonance cognitive et nos façons d'y répondre.