Definition of Leon Festinger

Leon Festinger was an American social psychologist best known for his work on cognitive dissonance theory.

Early Life and Education

Leon Festinger was born on May 8, 1919, in Brooklyn, New York. He completed his undergraduate studies at the City College of New York and later earned his Ph.D. in social psychology from the University of Iowa in 1942.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

Festinger’s most influential work revolved around cognitive dissonance theory, which suggests that individuals have an innate drive to avoid inconsistency and maintain a state of cognitive harmony. He argued that when people experience conflicting thoughts, beliefs, or attitudes, they experience psychological discomfort known as cognitive dissonance.

Important Contributions

Festinger conducted various experiments to study cognitive dissonance, such as the famous Festinger and Carlsmith study in 1959 known as the “$1 vs. $20” experiment. These experiments helped demonstrate how individuals tend to change their attitudes or beliefs to reduce the discomfort caused by cognitive dissonance.

Later Life and Legacy

Throughout his career, Festinger held positions at prestigious institutions like Stanford University, the University of Michigan, and the New School for Social Research. He published numerous influential papers on a wide range of topics, including social comparison theory, attribution theory, and the psychology of belief.

Leon Festinger’s contributions to psychology continue to shape our understanding of human cognition, motivation, and social behavior, and his work remains highly regarded in the field.