Dissonanzvermeidung

Dissonanzvermeidung, a German term meaning "dissonance avoidance," refers to the psychological tendency to avoid situations or information that create cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values, or is confronted by new information that conflicts with existing beliefs, ideas, or values. Dissonance avoidance describes the behaviors people engage in to reduce or eliminate this uncomfortable state.

These behaviors can manifest in several ways. Individuals might actively avoid information that challenges their existing views, such as only reading news sources that align with their political beliefs or avoiding conversations with people who hold opposing opinions. They might also selectively interpret information, focusing on aspects that support their existing beliefs while downplaying or ignoring contradictory evidence. Another common strategy is to change one's beliefs or attitudes to align with a chosen behavior or new information, thereby resolving the conflict. For instance, someone who buys an expensive item they later question might convince themselves it was a worthwhile purchase by focusing on its positive attributes and minimizing its drawbacks.

The drive for consistency and the discomfort associated with dissonance are powerful motivators for human behavior. Dissonanzvermeidung is a fundamental concept in social psychology, helping to explain how individuals maintain a stable sense of self and make decisions in the face of conflicting information and internal contradictions. It plays a significant role in attitude formation, persuasion, and decision-making processes.