Question
What is Cognitive Dissonance?
Answer
Cognitive dissonance is when we feel a certain way about ourselves but then do something that opposes that belief. We may not be able to identify it in the moment, but it still makes us feel anxious, guilty, and shameful. We may want to react by hiding, rationalizing our choices, avoiding evidence that we were in the wrong, and refraining from being in situations that make us feel worse. If you have experienced this, especially when dealing with a professional challenge, that is cognitive dissonance. We often try to justify the situation by saying, "I deserved this," or, "That person took it the wrong way."
This Ask the Expert is an edited excerpt from the course, Avoiding Professional Potholes: Everyday Ethical Social Work Practice, presented by Michelle Gricus, DSW, MSW, LICSW, LCSW-C.
