The Encyclopedia
of World Problems
& Human Potential

Cognitive dissonance

Nature

Cognitive dissonance is psychological conflict resulting from incongruous ideas and attitudes held simultaneously. The consequent lack of accord between beliefs and actions may be responsible for misunderstandings, separations, tensions and mistrust between peoples or nations, and can also be the source of mental anguish and perhaps mental illness within people themselves.

Claim

The USA seems to be pursuing a policy of cognitive dissonance in its stances (lack of stances) regarding Israel, South Africa, the USSR and Greece, wavering between asserting its beliefs and taking appropriate actions to sustain them.

Aggravates

Distrust

Separation

Sectarianism

Psychological conflict

Aggravated by

Intimidating practice of scientology

Strategy(ies)

Encouraging dissonance

Value(s)

Dissonance

Type

(F) Fuzzy exceptional problems

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The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential is a unique, experimental research work of the Union of International Associations. It is currently published as a searchable online platform with profiles of world problems, action strategies, and human values that are interlinked in novel and innovative ways. These connections are based on a range of relationships such as broader and narrower scope, aggravation, relatedness and more. By concentrating on these links and relationships, the Encyclopedia is uniquely positioned to bring focus to the complex and expansive sphere of global issues and their interconnected nature.

The initial content for the Encyclopedia was seeded from UIA’s Yearbook of International Organizations. UIA’s decades of collected data on the enormous variety of association life provided a broad initial perspective on the myriad problems of humanity. Recognizing that international associations are generally confronting world problems and developing action strategies based on particular values, the initial content was based on the descriptions, aims, titles and profiles of international associations.

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Cognitive dissonance

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