BY FAITH ALONE - RELIGIOUS AGITATION AND COGNITIVE-DISSONANCE

In two experiments, we tested the hypothesis derived from cognitive di ssonance theory (Festinger, 1957) that dissonance reduction attenuates dissonance-related negative affect. Using a belief disconfirmation pa radigm, we found that participants given an opportunity to reduce diss onance through transcendence (Study 1) or through maintenance of their threatened beliefs (Study 2) experienced less negative affect than di d participants not given an opportunity to reduce dissonance. These re sults contribute to two relatively neglected areas of research on diss onance theory: the role of affect in the dissonance process and altern ative modes of dissonance reduction.