A study on the relationship between cognitive dissonance and dissociation

Abstract

The aim of this graduate thesis research paper is to explore the relationships between cognitive dissonance, and dissociation. The variable of state-anxiety was also explored as a potential moderator of the relationship between cognitive dissonance and dissociation. This study utilized The Dissonance Test- Revised (DISS-R), The Dissociative Experiences Scale-II (DES-II), and the state anxiety form (Y1) of the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to collect data from the undergraduate population of The American College of Greece, Deree. All three variables were found to have a significant positive relationship with one another. State-Anxiety was not found to moderate the effect between Cognitive Dissonance and Dissociation. Results were interpreted based on the 'False self” theory of dissociation. Future areas of exploration include alternative moderators such as trait-anxiety, ego-strength, and attention, as well as alternative experimental procedures to explore the relationship between cognitive dissonance and dissociation.