Suggestion of self-(in)coherence modulates cognitive dissonance
Joshua Hagège1,2, Mariam Chammat1,2, Caroline Tandetnik1,2
1dINSERM, U 1127, Paris, France.
Plos One
|August 31, 2018
Summary
Cognitive dissonance, specifically choice-induced preference change (CIPC), requires conscious memory of past choices. Memory of suggestive quotes also modulates CIPC, suggesting a link to self-coherence regulation.
Area of Science:
- Social Psychology
- Cognitive Neuroscience
Background:
- Cognitive dissonance and its relationship with consciousness and episodic memory are debated.
- Previous research linked conscious memory of choices to choice-induced preference change (CIPC) using the free-choice paradigm (FCP).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the modulation of CIPC by suggestive information.
- To explore the role of memory for suggestive information in CIPC.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the free-choice paradigm (FCP) with suggestive quotes promoting self-coherence or self-incoherence.
- Assessed participants' memory of previous choices and suggestive quotes.
- Measured choice-induced preference change (CIPC) in healthy and amnesic individuals.
Main Results:
- CIPC was confirmed to depend on conscious memory of previous choices.
- Memory of suggestive quotes correlated with the modulation of CIPC.
- Suggestive quotes influenced preference changes, indicating a link to self-coherence.
Conclusions:
- CIPC is critically dependent on conscious memory of prior decisions.
- Memory of self-coherence-related information dynamically modulates CIPC.
- CIPC may represent a homeostatic mechanism for regulating self-coherence.
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