A structural model of emotions of cognitive dissonances

TL;DR

This study explores whether the Circumplex model of affect can accurately represent the emotions experienced during cognitive dissonance, based on empirical data from participant questionnaires.

Contribution

It demonstrates that the Circumplex model effectively describes the emotional states associated with cognitive dissonance, extending its applicability.

Findings

Results align with Circumplex model predictions

Emotions during dissonance are structured around valence and arousal

Supports using the model for understanding complex emotional states

Abstract

Cognitive dissonance is the stress that comes from holding two conflicting thoughts simultaneously in the mind, usually arising when people are asked to choose between two detrimental or two beneficial options. In view of the well-established role of emotions in decision making, here we investigate whether the conventional structural models used to represent the relationships among basic emotions, such as the Circumplex model of affect, can describe the emotions of cognitive dissonance as well. We presented a questionnaire to 34 anonymous participants, where each question described a decision to be made among two conflicting motivations and asked the participants to rate analogically the pleasantness and the intensity of the experienced emotion. We found that the results were compatible with the predictions of the Circumplex model for basic emotions.