Psychological manipulation using cognitive dissonance

S.O.T.T: The study of psychology results is useful knowledge about how we think and act, which (we hope) can be used to make our lives better. But the knowledge gained can also be used to manipulate people. The various forms of psychological manipulation are usually subliminal, meaning they happen without the conscious awareness of their use by the target. I've reported on these techniques before, and will continue to do so.

My goal isn't to provide you with tools to do nasty things, but to make you aware of tricks that might be used on you. Also, this information is just plain interesting. So with that in mind, here is what you need to know (or might like to know) about cognitive dissonance and how it is used for psychological manipulation.

We prefer to be consistent with what we think we should be, and what we believe or say. It is uncomfortable to have hold two opposing beliefs. So when we're faced with inconsistency, we experience what psychologists call "cognitive dissonance," which is the stress resulting from holding two contradictory cognitions at once. Cognitions, in this context, can be a thoughts, attitudes, emotions, beliefs or behaviors...read more>>>...