Gilmore Girls: An Artifact Analysis of Cognitive Dissonance

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Recommended: Discuss the theory of communication

Introduction

Communication is ubiquitous. Through out a normal day one might say hello to a neighbor, use hand gestures to express a message, smile at a stranger, or text a friend about dinner plans. These activities and more may happen on a “normal” day but the analysis of such interactions can prove to be quite complicated. The study of various theories of communication shed light on the reasons why people interact the way the do as well as help prepare a person for future communicative encounters. It is important to be able to communicate with another but it is equally important to explore the significance behind each type of encounter you take part in, as there are many distinctive types of communication. The theory of Cognitive Dissonance provides insight into the classic conundrum of knowing or believing one thing and doing another. An artifact analysis of this theory, using the ABC Family television series Gilmore Girls, will supply a clearer understanding of the complicated phenomena.

Cognitive Dissonance Described

American social psychologist and original developer of the theory of Cognitive Dissonance Leon Festinger breaks down his theory into two main parts. First, the presence of dissonance, inconsistency or unpleasantness, will psychologically motivate a person to achieve consonance, consistency or pleasantness (Festinger 3). Psychologist Elliot Aronson, key researcher in the 20th century of this theory, expands on the definition of dissonance to be more straightforward. Dissonance occurs when a person holds two ideas, beliefs, or opinions at the same time that are contradictory with one and other. Part two of the theory states that a person will attempt to avoid situations or knowledge that would possibly or pro...

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...ple. Even if more investigation does not happen for a while, the study of the theory alone would help round out any persons communication skills.

Works Cited

Aronson, Elliot. (1969). Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, Volume

4. New York, NY: Academic Press, INC. 19-23.

Crump, David. (2008). The Social Psychology of Evil: Can the Law Prevent Groups

From Making Good People Go Bad?. Brigham Young University Law Review,

Volume 2008 (Issue 5). 1444-1457.

Festinger, Leon. (1985). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Stanford, Ca: Stanford

University Press. 1-31.

Scott-Kakures, Dion. (2009). Unsettling Questions: Cognitive Dissonance in Self-

Deception. Social Theory & Practice, Volume 35 (Issue 1). 73-106.

Sherman-Palladino, Amy. (Producer). (2000). Gilmore Girls

(Television Series). Burbank, Ca: Warner Brothers Studios.

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