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Monkeys and Cognitive Dissonance

Posted by samzenpus on from the when-you're-right-you're-right dept.

Hugh Pickens writes "People deal with cognitive dissonance — the clashing of conflicting thoughts — by eliminating one of the thoughts. Psychologists have suggested we hone our skills of rationalization in order to impress others, reaffirm our "moral integrity" and protect our "self-concept" and feeling of "global self-worth." Now experimenters at Yale have demonstrated that other primates employ the same psychological mechanism. In one experiment, a monkey was observed to show an equal preference for three colors of M&M's and was given a choice between two of them. If he chose red over blue, his preference changed and he downgraded blue. When he was subsequently given a choice between blue and green, it was no longer an even contest — he was now much more likely to reject the blue. Rationalization is thought to have an evolutionary utility; once a decision has been made, second-guessing may just interfere with more important business. "We tend to think people have an explicit agenda to rewrite history to make themselves look right, but that's an outsider's perspective. This experiment shows that there isn't always much conscious thought going on," said one researcher."

5 of 229 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Color vision... by Puff_Of_Hot_Air · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    It seems to help to be a lurker. I have a total of 3 (4 now) posts to my name, and no one has ever moderated any of them. But I have lurked for years. I seem to get mod points about once a week. No one mode me or you'll screw up this good thing I have going here!

  2. Re:I'm no behavioral researcher... by at_slashdot · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    I agree, I also think it's a bad interpretation, it's not "rationalization" I think it's just memory, once you are forced to make a decision you remember that decision and you simple are consistent with your last decision.

    --
    "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." -- Prof. Dumbledore
  3. Re:Color vision... by DigbyChickenCaesar · · Score: 0, Offtopic
    I can't resist replying to this (helped by the fact that I'm a little drunk), but you're right, I think this is the second post I've ever made, but like you I seem to frequently get mod points (probably once every fortnight or so).

    I've been a lurker here for a fair while and I only decided to register to use the new AJAX comment system (which I think is really nice, thanks Slashdot gods). I think mod points simply go to people who don't have a lot of negative karma, so lurkers are always going to be close to the top of the list :-)

  4. Re:I defer to the late Mr Heinlein.... by NeutronCowboy · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    And again, Heinlein shows his brilliance. The only thing I'd like him to explain - what's with all the porn he wrote in the end? I mean, I know that it's probably the closest he get to naked nubile hotties at that point, but still....

    --
    Those who can, do. Those who can't, sue.
  5. Re:not-good(x) = good(not-x) ? by lucifer_666 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    i'd just like to add, in my first post to /. in a long time, "what the f?" boom tish.