{"id":15255,"date":"2025-03-29T09:48:21","date_gmt":"2025-03-29T00:48:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/?p=15255"},"modified":"2025-05-10T10:12:25","modified_gmt":"2025-05-10T01:12:25","slug":"cognitive-dissonance-in-the-simpsons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2025\/03\/29\/cognitive-dissonance-in-the-simpsons\/","title":{"rendered":"Cognitive Dissonance in “The Simpsons”"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the new SAQs students can use real world examples or studies. I thought I’d use an episode of The Simpsons to show how cognitive dissonance can explain divorce. However, my editor Tara Hasan wisely advised me that kids today wouldn’t get the reference. So thankfully I have this website for just such an occasion. In this post I’ll explain cognitive dissonance, how it can affect behaviour by increasing divorce and I’ll use an episode of The Simpsons to demonstrate.<\/strong><\/p>\n

What is cognitive dissonance?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Leon Festinger proposed cognitive dissonancy theory in 1954. This theory claims that people want consistent thoughts, feelings and actions. We want these things to be in harmony. When they are, it\u2019s called cognitive consistency. When they\u2019re not, however, we experience cognitive dissonance <\/strong>\u2013 a feeling of psychological discomfort caused by conflicting thoughts, feelings or behaviours. This is how cognitive dissonance affects behaviour \u2013 to reduce the discomfort people change their thoughts or actions so that they regain consistency.<\/p>\n

Cognitive dissonance is often misdefined as a cognitive process. It’s not a cognitive process but rather an unpleasant feeling caused by conflicting cognitive processes.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How does cognitive dissonance affect behaviour?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\"\"<\/a>

On Sale Now<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n

Cognitive dissonance can explain why people get divorced. In relationships, people in unhappy marriages might experience cognitive dissonance because their thoughts and actions are inconsistent. They then change their thinking or behaviour in a way that restores cognitive consistency but increases the chances of divorce. One way cognitive dissonance increases the chance of divorce is because it makes people more open to the idea.<\/p>\n

Openness to Divorce<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Cognitive dissonance might lead to changes in thinking about the benefits of divorce over marriage. For example, in the beginning when a couple is happy they have cognitive consistency \u2013 they believe marriage is an important bond between two people and they have the marital satisfaction consistent with this belief. However, over time their satisfaction decreases. Maybe the Four Horsemen start creeping in. Now they have cognitive dissonance because their thoughts (marriage is important) is inconsistent with their behaviour (Four Horsemen<\/a> and low marital satisfaction). To restore cognitive consistency, something has to change \u2013 either their thoughts or behaviours. To reduce the dissonance, they shift their thinking from the importance of marriage to the positives of divorce. Maybe they think their personal happiness is more important than staying married. Now that they are
\nmore open to divorce, it becomes more likely.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s use the Van Houten family from The Simpsons<\/em><\/span> to show how cognitive dissonance can lead to divorce. Milhouse Van Houten is Bart\u2019s best friend, and his parents, Kirk and Luann, get divorced. It was Luann who asked for divorce. In the beginning, she might have believed that marriage was important for a successful life and happy family. However, over time, the four horsemen crept into their marriage. Luann became contemptuous of Kirk as he let the family cracker business fail and she borrowed money to pay the bills. Now she has cognitive dissonance \u2013 she has psychological discomfort because her belief in the importance of marriage is inconsistent with her contempt for her husband. Something must change to regain cognitive consistency. Therefore, she changes her thinking about marriage and starts to think that it\u2019s not that important. Her happiness is more important than the marriage. This change in thinking makes it easier for her to announce the divorce in the middle of a Pictionary game in the Simpson\u2019s living room.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the new SAQs students can use real world examples or studies. I thought I’d use an episode of The Simpsons to show how cognitive dissonance can explain divorce. However, my editor Tara Hasan wisely advised me that kids today wouldn’t get the reference. So thankfully I have this website for just such an occasion. In this post I’ll explain … <\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":15256,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"","slide_template_v7":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15255","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nCognitive Dissonance in "The Simpsons" | The IB Psychology Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2025\/03\/29\/cognitive-dissonance-in-the-simpsons\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cognitive Dissonance in "The Simpsons" | The IB Psychology Blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In the new SAQs students can use real world examples or studies. I thought I’d use an episode of The Simpsons to show how cognitive dissonance can explain divorce. However, my editor Tara Hasan wisely advised me that kids today wouldn’t get the reference. So thankfully I have this website for just such an occasion. In this post I’ll explain ... 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One\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Assessment (IB)"","block_context":{"text":"Assessment (IB)","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/category\/assessment-ib\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/soc-saqs.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/soc-saqs.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/soc-saqs.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/soc-saqs.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/soc-saqs.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15331,"url":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2025\/06\/16\/mr-dixons-saq-learning-outcomes-for-ib-psychology\/","url_meta":{"origin":15255,"position":1},"title":"Mr Dixon’s SAQ Learning Outcomes for IB Psychology","author":"Travis Dixon","date":"06\/16\/2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Learning outcomes guide teaching and learning. For teachers, they tell us what we need to teach. For students, they guide revision for the exams.\u00a0 While writing exam tips for IB Psychology, I found the IB's learning objectives in the guide quite misleading in some ways (read more here). This is\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/bigstock-Planning-And-Organizing-With-P-6948557.jpg?fit=900%2C363&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/bigstock-Planning-And-Organizing-With-P-6948557.jpg?fit=900%2C363&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/bigstock-Planning-And-Organizing-With-P-6948557.jpg?fit=900%2C363&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2025\/06\/bigstock-Planning-And-Organizing-With-P-6948557.jpg?fit=900%2C363&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":15790,"url":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2026\/02\/17\/cognitive-approach-saqs\/","url_meta":{"origin":15255,"position":2},"title":"Cognitive Approach SAQs","author":"Travis Dixon","date":"02\/17\/2026","format":false,"excerpt":"This post explains what to expect in Paper 1 Section A - the SAQs. We'll focus on the Cognitive Approach.\u00a0 Jump to... IB's Example SAQs Practice SAQs Revision Tips Some Examples Study Tips Teacher Tips The Topics The short answer questions (SAQs) in Paper 1, Section A are based on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cognitive Psychology"","block_context":{"text":"Cognitive Psychology","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/category\/cognitive-psychology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/0790bca4-59b5-4f8f-80af-84a075ab2103.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/0790bca4-59b5-4f8f-80af-84a075ab2103.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/0790bca4-59b5-4f8f-80af-84a075ab2103.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/0790bca4-59b5-4f8f-80af-84a075ab2103.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2026\/02\/0790bca4-59b5-4f8f-80af-84a075ab2103.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12004,"url":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2019\/04\/18\/exam-question-bank-paper-1-cognitive-approach\/","url_meta":{"origin":15255,"position":3},"title":"Exam Question Bank: Paper 1: Cognitive Approach","author":"Travis Dixon","date":"04\/18\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Disclaimer: These questions are not IB \"official\" questions and are written with our best guess as to what the probable exam questions may look like. Therefore, not every\u00a0possible question is covered. READ MORE\u00a0 IB Psychology Exam Question Banks Paper 1: Biological approach (Link) Paper 1: Sociocultural approach (Link) Paper 1:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Assessment (IB)"","block_context":{"text":"Assessment (IB)","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/category\/assessment-ib\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/bigstock-Huge-Armored-Door-In-The-Banki-285200929-1-3.jpg?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/bigstock-Huge-Armored-Door-In-The-Banki-285200929-1-3.jpg?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/bigstock-Huge-Armored-Door-In-The-Banki-285200929-1-3.jpg?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/bigstock-Huge-Armored-Door-In-The-Banki-285200929-1-3.jpg?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":9978,"url":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2018\/05\/03\/flashbulb-memory-studies\/","url_meta":{"origin":15255,"position":4},"title":"Flashbulb Memory Studies","author":"Travis Dixon","date":"05\/03\/2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Here is a summary of evidence to use when discussing Brown and Kulik's FBM theory: SUPPORTING EVIDENCE Brown and Kulik conducted a study to test their theory using 80 American participants - 40 African American and 40 caucasian. They were asked questions about 10 events, 9 being very famous public\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Cognitive Psychology"","block_context":{"text":"Cognitive Psychology","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/category\/cognitive-psychology\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/05\/wtc_smoking_on_9-11.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/05\/wtc_smoking_on_9-11.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/05\/wtc_smoking_on_9-11.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/05\/wtc_smoking_on_9-11.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2018\/05\/wtc_smoking_on_9-11.jpeg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":12011,"url":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/2019\/04\/23\/exam-question-bank-paper-1-sociocultural-approach\/","url_meta":{"origin":15255,"position":5},"title":"Exam Question Bank: Paper 1: Sociocultural Approach","author":"Travis Dixon","date":"04\/23\/2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Disclaimer: These questions are not IB \"official\" questions and are written with our best guess as to what the probable exam questions may look like. Therefore, not every\u00a0possible question is covered. Read More: IB Psychology Exam Question Banks Paper 1: Biological approach (Link) Paper 1: Cognitive approach (Link) Paper 1:\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Assessment (IB)"","block_context":{"text":"Assessment (IB)","link":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/category\/assessment-ib\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/bigstock-Huge-Armored-Door-In-The-Banki-285200929-2.jpg?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/bigstock-Huge-Armored-Door-In-The-Banki-285200929-2.jpg?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/bigstock-Huge-Armored-Door-In-The-Banki-285200929-2.jpg?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/3\/2019\/04\/bigstock-Huge-Armored-Door-In-The-Banki-285200929-2.jpg?fit=900%2C900&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15255","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15255"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15255\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15298,"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15255\/revisions\/15298"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15255"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15255"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.themantic-education.com\/ibpsych\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15255"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}