Cognitive dissonance was first investigated by Leon Festinger, arising out of a participant observation study of a cult which believed that the earth was going to be destroyed by a flood, and what happened to its members — particularly the really committed ones who had given up their homes and jobs to work for the cult — when the flood did not happen.
While fringe members were more inclined to recognize that they had made fools of themselves and to "put it down to experience", committed members were more likely to re-interpret the evidence to show that they were right all along (the earth was not destroyed because of the faithfulness of the cult members).
You know what’s fun?
or
at least fun for me.
Triggering cognitive dissonance in a liberal.
When you set them up just right, get them fully engaged in a long conversation allowing them to expose multiple beliefs on a number of issues. Let them and encourage them to express their full passion. When done properly, they will think that they are convincing you that their beliefs/positions are correct and true.
Then, in a most sincere tone./s
Ask them to help you understand their conflicting beliefs.
You’ll get to witness any number of reactions.
My favorite reaction is when they have uncontrolled physical facial twitches while their mind tries reconcile the conflict. It really is something to behold.
More often than not, I’ll be called an A88hole, for making them think about their internal conflicts. That usually ends the discussion.
Other times they will get violent.
Verbal attacks and even being physically attacked will happen. I’ve been there.
And it will be all my fault for forcing them to deal with reality. To deal with their own human nature.
Well, I find it fun.