Understanding Ethical Dissonance

Have you ever felt uncomfortable after doing something that conflicted with your values? That mental discomfort has a name: ethical dissonance. Understanding this psychological phenomenon can help you navigate moral dilemmas more effectively and make decisions that align with your principles.

What Is Cognitive Dissonance?

Cognitive dissonance is the state of discomfort that occurs when two or more modes of thought contradict each other.¹ For example, if you care about the planet but still buy plastic water bottles, you’re likely to experience cognitive dissonance. 

Ethical dissonance is the mental discord related to a contradiction between the desire to uphold a moral self-image and engaging in unethical behavior.

In this way, ethical and cognitive dissonance are alike. However, ethical dissonance—as the name implies—occurs when there are ethical implications at play. Most of us have a mental image of ourselves that supports our belief that we are ethical people. When this image is paired with an ethical dilemma, such as your boss asking you to secretly record a conversation with a co-worker or mislead customers about the quality of a product offering, dissonance arises. And though this discomfort is a common experience, our responses to it may vary.

Ethical Dissonance vs. Cognitive Dissonance

Core Distinctions

What Triggers It 

Cognitive dissonance can involve any inconsistency—from lifestyle choices to practical decisions—without moral implications. Ethical dissonance, however, always centers on a moral conflict that threatens your identity as an ethical person.

Psychological Weight

Because ethical dissonance challenges your fundamental sense of being a good person, it typically produces more intense discomfort than general cognitive dissonance. The stakes feel higher when your moral character is on the line.

Quick Comparison

Resolution Strategies 

One way people respond to the discomfort experienced in ethical dissonance is through justification. This psychological mechanism is used in an attempt to reduce ethical dissonance and ultimately benefit from unethical behavior.

In addition, justification allows an individual to still feel moral despite the wrongdoing. For instance, you may choose to not inform yourself about the faulty product your boss wants you to sell, or decide that your customers should educate themselves prior to purchase. In doing so, you try to resolve dissonance by justifying your actions instead of attempting to align your beliefs with your conduct by not promoting a lousy product.

While both cognitive dissonance and ethical dissonance can be resolved through justification, ethical dissonance often requires more complex rationalization. That’s because you’re not just reconciling conflicting thoughts, you’re defending your moral identity. This can lead to more elaborate mental gymnastics or, conversely, more profound behavioral change when you choose alignment over justification.

Two Types of Ethical Dissonance

Anticipated dissonance: Sometimes, we can recognize ethical dissonance prior to taking any actions. This is referred to as anticipated dissonance.2 It can empower individuals with the insight they need to avoid committing a moral violation. 

Experienced dissonance: When dissonance is not anticipated and instead follows a moral violation, it is referred to as experienced dissonance.2 Ultimately, by becoming more aware of the presence of ethical dissonance, we can navigate situations in a way that produces better, healthier outcomes. 

How to Control Ethical Dissonance

Fortunately, there are various ways individuals can harness ethical dissonance. One way to do this is by reframing how you view ethical dissonance in the first place. Instead of perceiving it as a threat to your self-image, consider it to be the protector of your morals and values. In addition, experienced dissonance can be leveraged in a way that doesn’t promote shame, but instead encourages atonement and prompts better decision-making in the future.²

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¹Source: www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/cognitive-dissonance 
²Source: www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X15001955