Leon Festinger
Early Life and Education
Leon Festinger was born on May 8, 1919, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the son of Alex Festinger, a jeweler, and Sara Solomon Festinger. He attended Boys High School in Brooklyn and later enrolled at the City College of New York in 1939. While at City College, Festinger published his first scientific paper on visual perception, titled "Wish Tendency and Perception."
In 1942, Festinger entered the New School for Social Research, where he studied under the guidance of Gestalt psychologists such as Max Wertheimer and Solomon Asch. He received his Ph.D. in 1945, with a dissertation on the decision-making process.
Career and Research
Festinger began his academic career at the University of Iowa in 1945, where he worked with Kurt Lewin, a pioneer in the field of social psychology. In 1951, he moved to the University of Michigan, where he continued his research on social communication and group dynamics.
In 1955, Festinger joined the faculty at Stanford University, where he developed his most influential theory, the Cognitive Dissonance Theory. According to this theory, individuals strive for consistency in their beliefs and attitudes. When there is an inconsistency, or dissonance, they experience discomfort and are motivated to reduce this dissonance.
Festinger's research on cognitive dissonance has had a profound impact on psychology, influencing a wide range of areas including attitude change, decision making, and social behavior. His work has also been applied in various fields such as marketing, health, and politics.
In 1968, Festinger moved to the New School for Social Research in New York City, where he shifted his focus to the study of human curiosity and the seeking of knowledge. He developed the theory of the "cognitive map," which proposes that individuals create mental representations of their physical and social environments.
Cognitive Dissonance Theory
The Cognitive Dissonance Theory is one of Festinger's most significant contributions to psychology. The theory posits that individuals strive for consistency in their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. When there is a discrepancy among these elements, individuals experience cognitive dissonance, a state of tension that motivates them to reduce the inconsistency.
Festinger proposed that individuals can reduce dissonance in several ways: by changing one or more of the dissonant elements, by acquiring new information that supports the dissonant belief, or by reducing the importance of the dissonance.
The Cognitive Dissonance Theory has been widely applied in various fields and has generated a large body of empirical research. It has been used to explain phenomena such as post-decision regret, the persistence of false beliefs, and the effectiveness of persuasion techniques.
Social Comparison Theory
Another significant contribution of Festinger is the Social Comparison Theory, which he developed in 1954. This theory suggests that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they stack up against others. According to Festinger, individuals have an innate drive to evaluate their opinions and abilities, and when objective standards are not available, they turn to social comparisons.
The Social Comparison Theory has been influential in understanding social behavior and has been applied in areas such as self-esteem, group dynamics, and social influence.
Later Life and Legacy
Festinger retired from academic life in 1981 but continued to contribute to the field of psychology. He passed away on February 11, 1989, leaving behind a significant legacy.
Festinger's theories, particularly the Cognitive Dissonance Theory and the Social Comparison Theory, have had a profound impact on psychology. His work has influenced a wide range of areas, from social psychology to marketing and political science. His theories continue to generate research and remain central to our understanding of human behavior.