Cognitive dissonance

DonZabu

The natural implication with cognitive dissonance is that it's bad, irrational and silly.

My question is this: what would a psychologist suggest that the fox in the Fox and the Grapes tale do instead of convincing himself that the grapes are sour? Just sort of sit there and mope about not reaching them?

Wicked223

Not mope, accept the fact that he can't reach the grapes on the vine and move on, perhaps to another, easier-to-reach bunch of grapes?

captainbrass

Or, more to the point, accept that he's a carnivore anyway and go and raid a chicken coop like a real fox. No cognitive dissonance required.

Beholderess

Or, more to the point, accept that he's a carnivore anyway and go and raid a chicken coop like a real fox. No cognitive dissonance required.

This

But for serious answer - yes, accept that these grapes cannot be  reached and move on. Which would be more useful in the long run, because, well, at some point in the future the fox might encounter grapes he can reach, and being convinced that they are sour could cause the fox to miss the opportunity

captainbrass

^ Oh, hai, Beholderess. Long time, no see.

CountryPumpkin

Cognitive dissonance is a good thing. It is the thing it our brain that makes us feel uncomfortable when we hold two contradictory opinions. The bad thing is when somebody doesn't have cognitive dissonance.