Editing Cognitive dissonance (section)

== Relations among cognitions ==
To function in the [[reality]] of society, human beings continually adjust the correspondence of their mental attitudes and personal actions; such continual adjustments, between cognition and action, result in one of three relationships with reality:<ref name="Festinger, L. 1957">Festinger, L. (1957). ''A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance''. California: Stanford University Press.</ref>
# Consonant relationship: A cognition or action consistent with the other, e.g., not wanting to become drunk when out for dinner and ordering water rather than wine
# Irrelevant relationship: A cognition or action unrelated to the other, e.g. not wanting to become drunk when out and wearing a shirt
# Dissonant relationship: A cognition or action inconsistent with the other, e.g. not wanting to become drunk when out, but then drinking more wine anyway

=== Magnitude of dissonance ===
The term "magnitude of dissonance" refers to the level of discomfort caused to the person. This can be caused by the relationship between two different internal beliefs, or an action that is incompatible with the beliefs of the person.<ref name=":0a">{{cite journal |vauthors=Festinger L |date=October 1962 |title=Cognitive dissonance |journal=Scientific American |volume=207 |issue=4 |pages=93–102 |bibcode=1962SciAm.207d..93F |doi=10.1038/scientificamerican1062-93 |pmid=13892642 |s2cid=56193073}}</ref> Two factors determine the degree of psychological dissonance caused by two conflicting cognitions or by two conflicting actions:

# The importance of cognitions: the greater the personal value of the elements, the greater the magnitude of the dissonance in the relation. When the value of the importance of the two dissonant items is high, it is difficult to determine which action or thought is correct. Both have had a place of truth, at least subjectively, in the mind of the person. Therefore, when the ideals or actions now clash, it is difficult for the individual to decide which takes priority.
# Ratio of cognitions: the proportion of dissonant-to-consonant elements. There is a level of discomfort within each person that is acceptable for living. When a person is within that comfort level, the dissonant factors do not interfere with functioning. However, when dissonant factors are abundant and not enough in line with each other, one goes through a process to regulate and bring the ratio back to an acceptable level. Once a subject chooses to keep one of the dissonant factors, they quickly forget the other to restore peace of mind.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Boring EG | title = Cognitive Dissonance: Its Use in Science: A scientist, like any other human being, frequently holds views that are inconsistent with one another | journal = Science | volume = 145 | issue = 3633 | pages = 680–685 | date = August 1964 | pmid = 17754664 | doi = 10.1126/science.145.3633.680 }}</ref>

There is always some degree of dissonance within a person as they go about making decisions, due to the changing quantity and quality of knowledge and wisdom that they gain. The magnitude itself is a subjective measurement since the reports are self relayed, and there is no objective way as yet to get a clear measurement of the level of discomfort.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Oshikawa S |title=The Measurement of Cognitive Dissonance: Some Experimental Findings |journal=Journal of Marketing |date=January 1972 |volume=36 |issue=1 |pages=64–67 |doi=10.1177/002224297203600112 |s2cid=147152501 }}</ref>