Benchmark - Cognitive Dissonance, Social Attribution, and Learning and Instruction Applying theories to learning and instruction becomes problematic when theories contradict one another. For example,...

Running Head: Academic Writing             1
Academic Writing             2
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE, SOCIAL ATTRIBUTION, LEARNING AND INSTRUCTION
Table of Contents
Introduction    3
Discussion of the Theoretical Perspective and Current Research on Cognitive Dissonance Theory    3
Discussion of the Theoretical Perspective and Current Research on Social Attribution Theory    4
Discussion of how Cognitive Dissonance Theory and Attribution Theory Could be Applied to Improve Learning and Instruction    6
Discussion of Personal Worldview as a Means to Countermand Cognitive Dissonance    8
Conclusion    9
References    10
Introduction
In the daily lifestyle of humans, each individual is attributed with different sets of behavioural patterns that collaborate to develop the personality. Many a times, it is observed that humans are largely influenced by perceiving beliefs and behaviours of others and simultaneously, they tend to draw conclusion based on others actions. These two humanly attributes are taken up and elaborated in this report.
Discussion of the Theoretical Perspective and Current Research on Cognitive Dissonance Theory
The first proponent and investigator of the cognitive dissonance theory in the field of human psychology is Leon Festinger. Going by the cognitive dissonance theory, the humans tend to remain consistent about their cognitions such as opinions and beliefs. However, when inconsistency arises between behaviours or even attitudes, known as dissonance, the human strives to reduce the dissonance to retain the consistency (Carpenter, 2019). The current research studies have put forward that once the attitude of an individual undergoes a change at the time of dissonance, the behaviour naturally gets moulded. Festinger has significantly contributed towards the understanding of cognitive dissonance (Harmon-Jones, 2017). The theory of Festinger has specified that humans have an urge to stick to their behaviour and attitudes to remain in a state of harmony and circumvent unnecessary dissonance.
Modern researchers have unanimously agreed that the principle of cognitive consistency upholds this particular mind attribute of humans. An elimination of the disharmonious factor is a mandate to maintain the harmonious and consistent state. It is interesting to note that researchers after extensive investigation have asserted that three fundamental principles govern the cognitive dissonance theory in learning process (Hommel, 2019). The first principle states that a learner experience dissonance when the individual is compelled to make a selection between contradicting behaviours and cognitions. The second principle suggests that on reducing the level of significance of all the contradictory and conflicting cognitions, the dissonance can be removed. Once the value and importance is reduced, the individual tend to let go the disturbing factor.
The learners on experiencing new knowledge must remove the dissonance by complete acceptance of new opinions, thoughts and beliefs (Hinojosa, Gardner, Walker, Cogliser, & Gullifor, 2017). Finally, the last principle says that two fundamental factors determine the potential of cognitive dissonance. These factors include the importance of the opinions and beliefs and the number of conflicting cognitions existing. Modern researchers have found that learners tend to experience anxiety and tension when the dissonant cognitions, which are extremely valuable to these individuals, are high in count.
Discussion of the Theoretical Perspective and Current Research on Social Attribution Theory
The human mind is programmed in a manner to make inferences of the events, behaviours and actions, they observe in their daily lives. This is no surprise that individuals from ages tend to derive the reasons behind certain events that have drawn their attention and interest. In this context, it can be stated that in human psychology, social attribution is described as the method by which humans assign underlying reasons behind behaviour and actions. The social attribution theory, an outcome of the endeavours of the researchers, involves the use of models to elucidate and comprehend this process. As opined by Bruckmüller, Hegarty, Teigen, Böhm and Luminet (2017), the social attribution theory deals with the manner in which ordinary human beings try to reason out the actions, events and behaviours.
Interestingly, the inception of the theory goes back to as early as the initial phase of the 20th century. Fritz Heider has initiated the high scale psychological research to find out the dynamics of the social attribution theory that was later taken up by Bernard Weiner and Harold Kelley. The...