CB3

•      Interview a student next to you about a behavior that he or she has that is inconsistent with his or her attitudes (e.g., attitudes toward healthy eating or active lifestyle, attitudes toward materialism, etc.)

•      Ask the student to elaborate on why he or she has the behavior, then try to identify the way the person has resolved dissonant elements.

Our nature is to keep our attitudes and behaviors consistent. This is the basis for the principle of cognitive consistency. Further, the theory of cognitive dissonance explains that when we do have inconsistent attitudes and behaviors, we will find some way to rectify the dissonance and bring our attitudes and behaviors back into consistency.

While interviewing one of my close friends, I found out her attitude and behavior to be inconsistent. I asked her what she likes to do most. Answering the question, she told me that she wants to sing freely among strangers. I knew that she has good voice and is very good at singing. But she cannot express her singing talent when called upon any stage or platform.

I find her behavior to be inconsistent with her attitude. Her attitude is she wants to sing without any hesitation and she really wants to achieve something in that field. But without her initiation these things is not possible. So her behavior is in total contrast with her attitude.

Following the cognitive dissonance theory she has been trying really hard to minimize the fear and hesitation of singing in mass to match her attitude with behavior. The only solution for the problem is practice, practice and practice. By practicing among known faces, she can slowly make herself comfortable singing among mass. Eventually, it will not take much time for her to be fully comfortable to sing on stage.