Editor's Notes
Javier Mora was recipient of ORCA Travel Grant #196 to present at the Midwestern Psychological Association Annual Conference.
Abstract
Cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger, 1957) theorizes that when individuals experience discrepancies between attitudes, actions or beliefs, the resulting psychological discomfort leads individuals to use one of many “dissonance reduction strategies” such as justification, attitude change, etc. to feel better (Mcgrath, 2017).
Moral disengagement theory refers to tendency of people to lessen the implications of their perceived immoral actions, through various behaviors such as blaming others, diffusing responsibility, etc. (Bandura et al, 1996).
However, no known research has examined whether moral disengagement is merely a dissonance reduction process.
Recommended Citation
Mora, Javier and Hackathorn, Jana Michelle
(2025)
"Cheating on Cognitive Dissonance Theory: An Investigation of Moral Disengagement,"
Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal: Vol. 9:
Iss.
1, Article 7.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/steeplechase/vol9/iss1/7