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Cognitive emotive dissonance
Explain the theory of Cognitive Dissonance in 1-2 paragraphs
Cognitive dissonance research paper
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Cognitive dissonance is a psychological concept appointed to the mental discomfort experienced by individuals whose behaviors, attitudes and beliefs are unaligned. Due to the conflict within them, these individuals often decide to change one aspect of the aforementioned to match with the others. This explains the need to seek redemption, as the individual’s past behaviors fail to match their evolved mindset and ethical values. By accomplishing redemption, an individual is able to restore balance, therefore alleviating stress. The Kite Runner, a powerful novel written by Khaled Hosseini, chronicles the life of Amir, the narrator, through his betrayal, guilt and redemption. At the age of 12, Amir witnesses the sexual harassment of his loyal friend …show more content…
and servant Hassan. He does not attempt to provide assistance to Hassan in any way, and denies seeing the devastating incident. Amir carries the guilt that emerged from this occurrence along with him into adulthood. Succeeding his family friend, Rahim Khan’s, phone call to Amir, he realizes he cannot live with his debilitating guilt for any longer and yearns for contentment. He attempts to redeem himself through his actions to regain happiness, and because the conduct that he displayed as a child does not agree with his developed beliefs and values as an adult. Foremost, Amir makes the decision to assist those in need, in Pakistan, his childhood home. Additionally, he chooses to shift from his previous cowardly demeanor to a courageous attitude, determined to take responsibility. Furthermore, Amir does the ethically right thing, since he was unable to during his childhood. Therefore, by analyzing Amir's decisions to act resulting from mature contemplation, it is evident that Hosseini presents the story of Amir and Hassan to reveal that redemption is attainable, which contributes to the ultimate human goal of achieving sustained happiness. Amir, aspiring to redeem himself, decides to give back to his childhood community in Pakistan. During the rising action of the novel, following Amir's arrival to Peshawar, Amir sets out to retrieve Sohrab, Hassan’s son, and is assisted by Farid, a driver. They spend the night at Farid’s brother, Wahid’s house. While there, Amir realizes that Wahid's family is struggling with money. Amir recognizes an opportunity for redemption and "when [he is] certain no one [is] looking, [he does] something [he] had done twenty-six years earlier: [He plants] a fistful of crumpled money under a mattress" (Hosseini 254). Prior to Amir’s execution of this charitable act, he references his past betrayal to Hassan. After witnessing the rape of Hassan, he is unable to live comfortably in the same household as Hassan because the sight of him provokes the onset of dismal memories and the guilt surrounding them. In an attempt to cause the departure of Hassan, he frames him for committing the misdemeanor of theft by placing his watch and money underneath Hassan’s mattress. This leads to Hassan and Ali leaving, causing distress to Baba and eventually to Amir. Afterwards, in his adulthood, Amir makes the decision to perform the same action that he regrets doing during childhood-but this time with positive intentions. Doing so brings about emotional relief, as Amir gives money to a family that is struggling. Moreover, like his father, Amir feels the need to give back to the community in order to redeem himself for his sins. Subsequent to his return to America with Sohrab, a man named Karid, who knew Amir’s mother Sofia, asks if he and Soraya could assist on a project to rebuild a hospital in Pakistan. Amir agrees, noting, "Soraya and I [have become] involved in Afghan projects, as much out of a sense of civil duty as the need for something..." (382). Taking the same path as Baba, Amir also decides to help with a hospital project. However, Amir does not do so solely because he feels obliged to since it is his birth country but also to feel a sense of accomplishment and wellbeing, since he is helping others. As can be seen through Amir’s actions of leaving the money beneath the mattress and aiding in the construction of a hospital in Pakistan, by doing well for others in need, Amir is able to partially relieve himself from the guilt that has burdened him since his childhood. This causes him contentment, as he is helping those in need and partially compensating for his lack of action when Hassan was in need. Hence, by giving back to the people in Pakistan, Amir was able to redeem himself. By choosing to face his somber past rather than ignore it, Amir is able to overcome his guilt instead of avoiding it.
After Rahim Khan reveals many secrets to Amir regarding his childhood and what occurred after he fled to America, he asks Amir to retrieve Sohrab from Kabul. When Amir agrees, he suggests for Amir to stay with him in Peshawar for a few more days so that they are able to carefully map out his travel plan. Amir worries that he will convince himself to leave Pakistan and return to America. After deliberation, Amir claims, "I [am] afraid…that I [will] wade back into that great big river and let myself forget…I [am] afraid that [I will] let these waters carry me away from what I [have] to do. From Hassan. From the past that [has] come calling. And from this one last chance at redemption" (243). Amir is able to think logically, and based on his previous experiences, realizes that he has a tendency to flee from uncomfortable situations, as can be seen when he witnesses Hassan’s rape. This time, Amir displays responsibility and determination through his choice to leave before he has a chance to change his mind, a result of maturity. His decision to confront his past and stop running from the guilt that is preventing him from enjoying his life allows Amir to start his journey towards redemption. In addition, when visiting his childhood home after 26 years, Amir is visibly upset by the sight but still wishes to proceed. Farid senses his discomfort and attempts to offer advice. Before returning, Amir converses with Farid: “‘Just forget it all. Makes it easier…’ Farid said. ‘I don't want to forget anymore,’” (276). Amir’s response to Farid’s comment confirms his willpower to put an end to his guilt and to face his past bravely. This shows that Amir is no longer ignoring his history but instead is acknowledging that it happened and actively trying to change himself for his betterment. Both his response to Rahim Khan’s plea to stay longer and his answer to
Farid’s statement concerning forgetting his past demonstrate that Amir’s mindset has changed and he is able to make wise decisions. It is clear that Amir is no longer disregarding his past but instead has built up the strength and determination to take action to redeem himself. Overall, Amir’s decisions to address his past leads to freedom from his burden of guilt and to his eventual redemption. Due to his matured morals and newly developed courage, Amir is able to redeem himself by making decisions to do the right thing, since he was incapable of doing so when he was younger. When Amir finally arrives in Kabul to retrieve Sohrab, he discovers that Sohrab is being held captive by a Taliban official. He later discovers that it is Assef, the person who committed the terrible act of sexually harassing Hassan. Assef agrees to allow Amir to take Sohrab if he is able to beat him in a fight. Amir, although frightened, decides to battle with Assef for Sohrab because he realizes that it is the correct thing to do. While Amir is fighting Assef, he observes, “My body [is] broken-just how badly I [will not] find out until later-but I [feel] healed. Healed at last” (303). Amir was not able to fight Assef during their childhood, when Hassan needed him to, and by fighting for Sohrab, Hassan’s son, he feels a sense of redemption and internal triumph. Combatting Assef enables Amir to feel healed from within and gain closure, as he finally gets a chance to battle the origin of his life-long, disabling guilt. Further, following his return to America with Sohrab, it becomes obvious that General Taheri does not approve of adoption, and especially of a Hazara since they are deemed to be lesser. The general asks Amir why he brought Sohrab to America, referring to Sohrab not by his name, but by the term Hazara. In response, Amir summarizes his and Hassan’s story, informing the general of the reasoning behind his choice. Afterwards, Amir continues to displays his courage: “And one more thing General Sahib…You will never again refer to him as ‘Hazara boy’ in my presence. He has a name and it’s Sohrab” (380). During his childhood, when the other children taunted Amir for interacting with Hassan since he was a Hazara, Amir failed to stand up to them. Now, he displays his gained courage through his choice to voice his opinion and defend Sohrab. His upstanding shows that he has greatly changed his viewpoint and ability to speak up for what he believes to be right compared to when he was younger. It also illustrates that Amir has taken full responsibility of Sohrab and intends to shelter him from harm. To Amir, caring for Sohrab is a chance to finally help Hassan, since Hassan was always loyal to him during their childhood. Coupled with his upstanding to the general regarding Sohrab, Amir’s retrieval of Sohrab shows that he is able to make the decision to do the right thing. In both instances, Amir demonstrated the ability to overcome fear and to stand up for what he believes to be right. Thus, by actively making the decision to do what is morally correct, Amir is able to redeem himself. As displayed through Amir’s choices to take action, Hosseini shares the story of Amir and Hassan to illustrate that it is possible to seek redemption after guilt, and that this redemption can lead to contentment. Amir attempts to achieve redemption by giving back to his community in Pakistan. Furthermore, he decides to face his past courageously and is determined to atone for his sins. Finally, Amir chooses to act to do the right thing, since he could not during his childhood. Through these decisions, Amir is able to accomplish redemption, relieving him of his guilty past. Redemption, no matter the form, is a result of cognitive dissonance. Those who are able to successfully overcome their discomfort by admitting to their mistakes are able to restore mental balance and achieve happiness
Page 2 - “I sat on a park bench near a willow tree. I thought about something Rahim Khan said just before he hung up, almost as an afterthought. I looked up at those twin kites.”
The Kite Runner is a book about a young boy, Amir, who faces many struggles as he grows up in Kabul and later moves to America to flee from the Taliban. His best friend and brother , Hassan, was a big part of his life, but also a big part of guilt he held onto for many years. The book describes Amir’s attempt to make up for the past and resolve his sins so he can clear his conscious. Amir is worthy of forgiveness because although he was selfish, he was very brave and faced his past.
Kite Runner depicts the story of Amir, a boy living in Afghanistan, and his journey throughout life. He experiences periods of happiness, sorrow, and confusion as he matures. Amir is shocked by atrocities and blessed by beneficial relationships both in his homeland and the United States. Reviewers have chosen sides and waged a war of words against one another over the notoriety of the book. Many critics of Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, argue that the novel would not have reached a lofty level of success if the U.S. had not had recent dealings with the Middle East, yet other critics accurately relate the novel’s success to its internal aspects.
Despite living majority of his life with the guilt of not helping Hassan, Amir’s nemesis is yet to come. Destiny plays a huge game with Amir and reveals to him that Hassan is his illegitimate brother during his visit with Rahim Khan. Reacting with various emotions, Amir first decides to head back about to America, but in the end makes the first brave decision in his life by going back to Kabul “…to atone not just for [his] sins, but…Baba’s too” (198). Amir tries to compensate for his sin by rescuing Hassan’s son, Sohrab, from the brutality occurring in Kabul. Amir puts his entire life in jeopardy by facing the oppression in Kabul so he could make a genuine effort in eliminating his sins. In an ideal world, when one truly makes an effort to redeem themselves for their wrongdoings, they are usually gifted with forgiveness. However, in reality, Amir’s heroic act of saving Sohrab, did not free him of sorrow because he still has to live with his nemesis for the rest of his life. By taking Sohrab to America with him, Amir constantly is reminded of his hamartia by envisioning Hassan through Sohrab. This shows how the guilt from a cowardly act leads one into a lifelong feeling of
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini, focuses on the character Amir who fails to help his friend Hassan in an alley when they are both children. This incident occurs because of the simple reason that Amir is a coward even when he knows deep down that Hassan would do anything for Amir. This betrayal towards Hassan turns out to cause Amir a lifetime guilt throughout the rest of the novel. Later on when Amir moves to America, gets married, and becomes a successful writer, Amir is still incapable of forgetting the incident. Amir’s actions as an adult stem from his desire for redemption and start forgiving himself for the mistakes of his past. Amir is an accurate portrayal of a tragic hero based on his inherent guilt, well deserved punishments, and
However there are some characters that become better people and change becoming a better, stronger, more loyal individual in the end. The individual that demonstrates this development within this novel is Amir himself. All of the guilt Amir holds with him as a child allow him to realize his duty to be loyal to his brother Hassan ion the end. An example of this is when Amir goes back to Kabul, Afghanistan to retrieve his nephew Sohrab. Amir says, “I remembered Wahid’s boys and… I realized something. I would not leave Afghanistan without finding Sohrab.’ tell me where he is,’ I said” (Hosseini 255). Here, Amir is at the orphanage waiting to find out where Taliban has taken his nephew. Amir remembers the three young starving sons of Wahid, a man whose home he had been in earlier, and realized that Afghanistan is not a safe place for Sohrab. Amir is finally aware of one thing, Hassan has always been there to protect Amir like a loyal friend and brother would and now Amir knows that it is his turn to return that loyalty to Hassan by protecting Hassan’s flesh and blood. A second example of Amir’s loyalty to Hassan near the ending of the book is during Amir’s confrontation with General Sahib and the dinner table after Sohrab is safe in America with him. Amir proclaims to General Sahib, “…That boy sleeping on the couch
Amir begins to feel redemption when he goes to Pakistan and Rahim Khan has letters from Hassan to Amir. In the letters, Hassan begins talking about his wife and
The book’s opening chapter focuses on Amir's conversation with Rahim and Amir’s "way to be good again” (Hosseini 1). The reason Amir flies all the way to Pakistan leaving behind his wife and life in America is Rahim Khan. Amir desires to make up for what he did to Hassan, so he answers Rahim's quest to “be good again” (Hosseini 1). This meeting allows Rahim to tell Amir what he must do to make up for his past. Rahim tells him he must put his own life in danger to save Hassan’s son, Sohrab. At first, Amir wants to refuse Rahim Khan’s wish, thinking of his life back home. He also thinks about how Hassan’s life may have been different if Hassan had the same opportunities he had. Then he realizes, “ But how can I pack up and go home when my actions may have cost Hassan a chance at those very same things?” (Hosseini 226). Rahim Khan warns Amir that it cannot be anyone else; Amir must make up for his own sins. Although he knows it's dangerous, Amir agrees to get Hassan’s son for Rahim as his dying wish. Amir believes that saving Sohrab is “A way to end the cycle” (Hosseini 227). Amir’s commitment in the face of danger proves his determination to be better and finally atone for his sins. Amir realizes his mistake and knows he can't change what he’d done. Eventually, with Rahim's help, he begins to see saving Sohrab as a “way to be
The story The Kite Runner is centered around learning “to be good again.” Both the movie and the book share the idea that the sins of the past must be paid for or atoned for in the present. In the book, Amir can be seen as a troubled young boy who is struggling with a tremendous amount of guilt. It is easy to blame Amir’s actions on his guilt and his father’s lack of love for him.
It is difficult to face anything in the world when you cannot even face your own reality. In his book The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini uses kites to bring out the major themes of the novel in order to create a truly captivating story of a young boy’s quest to redeem his past mistakes. Amir is the narrator and protagonist of the story and throughout the entire novel, he faces enormous guilt following the horrible incident that happened to his closest friend, Hassan. This incident grows on Amir and fuels his quest for redemption, struggling to do whatever it takes to make up for his mistakes. In Hosseini’s novel, kites highlight aspects of Afghanistan’s ethnic caste system and emphasizes the story’s major themes of guilt, redemption and freedom.
The internal battle of right and wrong also occurs between the morals and actions of the person. The Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini, follows the story of a young boy from Afghanistan struggling with guilt from his childhood. Hosseini uses descriptive words in order to immerse the reader into the conflict occurring within a character. When the town’s bully rapes Amir’s best friend, Hassan, Amir is aware what is happening is wrong and he should do something to stop the act. Amir knows his action of not reacting is wrong and reminded of his cowardly action whenever he sees Hassan: "Because when he was around, the oxygen speed out of the room. My chest tightened and I couldn't draw enough air; I'd stand there, gasping in my own little airless
Betrayal, redemption, and forgiveness are all major themes in The Kite Runner written by Khaled Hosseini. The novel also focuses around the theme of a broken relationship between father and son as well as facing difficult situations from ones past. Amir and Hassan are best friends with two completely different personalities. Each character in the novel faces their own hardships and eventually learns to overcome those difficulties. Beginning with betrayal then the characters have to make their way to gaining redemption and forgiveness from others, as well as their self, is carried on throughout the novel. It is a continuous story of the relationships between Amir and his father Baba and facing their challenges from the past every day of their present.
...achieves redemption and finally succeeds in overcoming his guilt. Hosseini uses this struggle to persuade those who feel extreme guilt for a wrongdoing to seek forgiveness and to help others in need. The author emphasizes that atoning one’s sins comes from reaching out to others. He expresses this when Amir offers to help Sohrab and he rids himself of guilt from his former relationship with Hassan. In addition, Hosseini writes to those who challenge the ideals of society in order to encourage them to create and follow their own values. The author uses Amir’s struggle in his relationship with Baba and his acceptance with Amir’s writing career to demonstrate this idea. Throughout his novel, The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini develops a main character that questions his decisions, yet conforms to societal ideals to represent his theme of redemption and self-acceptance.
Guilt prompts Amir to go back to Afghanistan and drives Baba to care for Hassan. In the beginning of the book, Amir expresses that “it’s wrong what they say about the past… about how you can bury it. Because the past claws its way out(Hosseini 1).” Amir realizes this when the guilt never goes away from when he ignored Hassan when Hassan needed help. Amir constantly tries to forget about the past and how the rape impacted his relationship with Hassan and Ali. However, even with Amir’s efforts to obliterate the memory of the event, it resurfaces with Rahim Khan’s request to find Sohrab. Initially, Amir is reluctant to go to Kabul to look for Sohrab, but he remembers Rahim Khan saying, “There is a way to be good again(Hosseini 226).” Desperate for the chance to redeem himself, Amir returns to Kabul with the intention of transporting Sohrab to a better place. Amir understands that the only way for him to stop feeling guilty about the winter of 1975 is that he finds Sohrab and verifies that he lives a more secure life. In Baba’s case, he was able to care for Hassan as an uncle and the guilt he has inclined him to help others by building an orphanage. Also, with Ali’s permission, Baba is able to “[hire] Dr. Kumar to fix Hassan’s harelip(Hosseini 225)” and give Hassan birthday presents to show his affection. Caring for Hassan helps Baba get rid of the guilt he feels from the affair. Even though Baba could only show his love as a friend and not as a father, he embraces the opportunity with open arms. The guilt that both Amir and Baba experiences motivate them to do whatever they can to make up for their
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is a novel based in Afghanistan that shows the betrayal between two boys with two different social backgrounds. Four years later “The Kite Runner” was filmed by David Benioff, which shows the meaningful message that the book delivers in a movie. Throughout the book and movie, Amir the protagonist must live the rest of his life with guilt from his childhood. Although the movie gave the same meaningful message that the book delivered, the book was further developed, which had more detail and kept the readers wanting more. Ultimately these details that were present in the novel gave the readers a better understanding of the characters, which led to the relationships