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Cognitive dissonance refers to a state of internal conflict, arising when two or more cognitions are inconsistent with each other. The state brings about an urge to reach consonance - and to do so, different reduction strategies can be utilized. Sugar dating constitutes a transactional form of dating that is growing in our modern, digital time, it resides in a gray area between conventional relationships and prostitution. Against the societal backdrop that enables sugar dating, this study aims at exploring if sugar daters in Sweden express cognitive dissonance and what, if anything, they do to reduce it. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews (n=24) and analyzed through hypothetical-deductive thematic analysis. Results show that a majority of the sample expressed cognitive dissonance regarding their sugar dating. Several reduction strategies emerged, which could be categorized in line with earlier research on cognitive dissonance. This study provides a tool for understanding incomprehensible actions via knowledge on human behavior. For further research we suggest qualitative research exploring the psychological consequences of moving in the intimacy/transaction gray area, possible links between dissonance and clinical dissociation, and more in-depth exploration of the emotional labor discussed by sugar babes.

Yes / An integrated process, interlinked operation and interoperable communication network amongst operating agencies are critical for developing an effective disaster management supply chain. The traditional managerial problems observed across disaster management operations are: non-cooperation among members, disrupted chain of commands, misuse of relief items, lack of information sharing, mistrust and lack of coordination. This study aims to understand the issues affiliated with negative attitude towards disaster management operations using theory of cognitive dissonance. A qualitative investigation was undertaken across 64 districts in Bangladesh. Five constructs were examined for their influences on attitude and behavioural intention of members participating in government emergency supply chain for disaster management. The results indicate that administrative conflict, political biasness and professional growth have significant effects on attitude. Impact of insecurity is non-significant on attitude. This research offers substantial theoretical contribution to the cognitive dissonance theory in the context of disaster management supply chain.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) share many similarities such as the presence of obsessions and compulsions, a similar age of onset and also similar activation of underlying structures within the brain related to obsessions and compulsion formation. The recently published DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) has grouped the two conditions together in a chapter entitled Obsessive Compulsive -and related disorders, recognising the similarities in presentation. This appeared to echo the classification within the NICE guidelines for OCD and BDD (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2006) where the two conditions were grouped together on the presence of obsessions and compulsions, neurological evidence pointing to the activation of brain areas responsible for obsessive thoughts and compulsive acts alongside strong familial links. Both OCD and BDD were understood (from both sets of guidelines) to respond well to the use of Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors and the treatment use of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. This qualitative research study focuses on the gap in existing literature by studying the lived experience of individuals living with obsessions and compulsions. Much focus has historically remained on understanding the clinical symptomology and underlying constructs as related to living with obsessions and compulsions, through the use of questionnaires or brain imaging. With recent changes in the DSM-V (Statistical Manual for mental Disorders; American Psychiatric Association, 2013) recognising OCD and BDD as part of the same family of conditions, it appeared timely to focus on the individuals living with OCD or BDD and their sense and meaning making as informed by their experiences of obsessions and compulsions.

Thesis (MBA (Business Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Managerial blind spots are business realities that impact the organisation and its employees adversely. Managers are susceptible to their prejudices and ignorance and are not aware that they are sometimes biased when making decisions. All humans have blind spots that impact their functioning. This paper describes the link between blind spots and a person’s conscious and unconscious behaviour. Blind spots are entrenched in the psyche and not easily dismissed. Cognitive dissonance, naïve realism, the introspection illusion and the unconscious role in non-rational behaviour argue strongly that it is not easy to eliminate blind spots. Though internal and cognitive processes are important in understanding the origin of blind spots, they also flourish in the environment. Factors that influence the formation of blind spots include managerial competence, fellow employees and information quality. There are numerous definitions of and approaches to spirituality. When considering the potential value of spirituality within a business context, specifically in relation to blind spots, it is necessary to define spirituality clearly. There is widespread consensus that spirituality is not a synonym for religion. Though there are numerous definitions for spirituality, it has been discovered there are common themes that can be distilled from all the definitions. The essence of spirituality can be described in six terms: love, authenticity, simplicity, silence, living in the present (now) and gratitude. Common spiritual themes include self-awareness, interconnectedness and wholeness. It is in these spiritual themes that managers could unlock the potential value to address managerial blind spots. Managers who are less self-aware are also more susceptible to blind spots. Through various spiritual practices, managers could grow in self-awareness and increase their mental health (e.g. mindfulness and meditation). Some spiritual practices focus on interconnectedness and wholeness which will increase the likelihood of eliminating prejudice and bias (e.g. practising loving-kindness). The leader who employs a spiritual approach to leadership will not only change himself, but will have a positive impact on fellow employees and the organisation. Various organisations where a spiritual approach has been implemented by the leadership have benefited and are considered success stories. The leader has a perfect opportunity to implement a spiritual approach to work, since it dovetails with the emerging paradigm and the future requirements of work. Seeing and implementing the opportunities offered by a spiritual approach, will not only help the leader to address his or her managerial blind spots, but will also benefit the leader, fellow workers, the organisation and society as a whole. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Blinde kolle in die bestuurswêreld is ‘n realiteit wat die organisasie en sy werkers negatief beïnvloed. Bestuurders is bevooroordeeld en onkundig. Hulle besef nie altyd dat hulle besluite beïnvloed word deur hulle vooroordele nie. Alle mense het blinde kolle wat hulle funksionering beïnvloed. Hierdie studie beskryf die verband tussen blinde kolle en ‘n persoon se bewustelike en onbewustelike gedrag. Blinde kolle is deel van die psige en kan nie maklik mee weggedoen word nie. Kognitiewe dissonansie, naïewe realisme, die introspeksie illusie en die onbewuste se rol in irrasionele gedrag maak dit duidelik dat dit moeilik is om van blinde kolle ontslae te raak. Alhoewel interne en kognitiewe prosesse belangrik is vir die verstaan van die oorsprong van blinde kolle, is dit ook waar dat hulle in die onmiddellike omgewing floreer. Verskeie faktore beïnvloed die ontstaan van blinde kolle, soos ‘n bestuurder se vaardigheidsvlakke, medewerkers en die kwaliteit van inligting. Daar is verskeie definisies van en aanslagte tot spiritualiteit. Wanneer die moontlike waarde van spiritualiteit in ‘n besigheidskonteks oorweeg word, moet dit duidelik gedefinieer word. Daar is redelike konsensus dat spiritualiteit nie met godsdiens verwar moet word nie. Verder blyk dit duidelik dat, ten spyte van die vele definisies vir spiritualiteit, daar sekere temas keer op keer opduik. Die essensie van spiritualiteit kan in ses konsepte saamgevat word: liefde, egtheid, eenvoud, stilte, lewe in die hede (die nou) en dankbaarheid. Gemeenskaplike spirituele temas sluit self-bewuswording, interverbondenheid en heelheid in. Deur middel van hierdie spirituele temas kan bestuurders die moontlike waarde van spiritualiteit ontsluit om hulle blinde kolle aan te spreek. Bestuurders wat laer vlakke van self-bewuswording het, is meer geneig tot blinde kolle. Deur middel van verskeie spirituele praktyke kan bestuurders groei in hulle self-bewuswording en hulle geestesgesondheid (bv. deur meditasie) verbeter. Sommige spirituele praktyke fokus weer op interverbondenheid en heelheid wat vooroordele kan verminder. Die leier wat werk met ‘n spirituele aanslag benader, sal nie net homself verander nie, maar ook medewerkers en die organisasie as ‘n geheel. Verskeie organisasies waar leiers ‘n spirituele aanslag gevolg het, het daarby gebaat en kan as suksesverhale beskou word. Die leier het die beste geleentheid om werk met ‘n spirituele aanslag te benader, aangesien die ontluikende paradigma agslaan op spirituele waardes. Deur die geleenthede wat die spirituele aanslag bied aan te gryp, sal die leier nie alleen self daarby baat vind nie, maar ook medewerkers, die organisasie, en die samelewing in die algemeen.

published_or_final_version / Urban Planning / Master / Master of Science in Urban Planning

Cognitive dissonance theory and selective information exposure literature postulate that individuals ignore preference-inconsistent information and selectively process new information. Previous studies on selective information exposure have shown that preference-inconsistent information is not persuasive for consumer decision making. Given the limited amount of past research about the effect of preference-inconsistent information on decision-making in broad domains of consumer behavior studies, the current study investigated how preference-inconsistent information can persuade consumers to switch to a sustainable product alternative. The purpose of this study is to investigate the process how preference-inconsistent sustainability-related information can be considered as important, consequently changing consumers' initial preference to green alternatives. A series of online experiments was conducted using a shampoo product category. Study 1 tested a baseline effect on whether consumers in the preference-inconsistent condition were persuaded to change their initial choice significantly compared to those in the preference-consistent condition. Study 2 tested the effect of preference-inconsistent sustainability-related information in the acceptance process, focusing on the role of brand commitment and information quality. Study 3 examined the effect of preference-inconsistent sustainability-related information in the evaluation process, investigating the impact of consumer environmental concern and PCE. Findings of Study 1 revealed that consumers in the preference-inconsistent condition were significantly persuaded to change choice to a sustainable alternative, which is not consistent with selective exposure literature. However, Study 1 findings were not sufficient to determine what specific factors influenced respondents to be persuaded, which provides justifications for Study 2 and Study 3. Findings in Study 2 and Study 3 conclusively demonstrated the importance of the credibility of preference-inconsistent information in the acceptance process. Also, findings suggested that the effect of credibility is stronger than that of brand commitment in the acceptance process. Regarding brand commitment, the results have shown that high commitment consumers had a higher acceptance of inconsistent information which is opposite to expectations. Further, the findings demonstrated the importance of environmental concern and the conditional effect of PCE in the evaluation process. Moreover, results supported that the relative weighting of sustainability attributes is driving the effects of environmental concern and PCE as a mediator on persuasion outcomes in the evaluation process. The current study contributes to understanding the process in which the preference-inconsistent information can be effective in influencing consumer choice. Moreover, findings from this research can provide implications for selective exposure literature and sustainable consumption literature. Practically, the results of the study provide implications to guide marketers and information providers in establishing effective ways to change consumers' behavior in sustainable consumption context.

O comportamento de busca de informação é conhecido por anteceder decisões não triviais e também por ocorre após a tomada de decisão, entretanto poucos estudos focam na busca por informação nesse estágio do processo. Pesquisadores têm investigado o conhecimento prévio tido pelo indivíduo como um importante preditor da busca por informação antes da tomada de decisão. No entanto, após a decisão, a influência do conhecimento prévio na busca por informação tem sido negligenciada. Considerando que o conhecimento sobre o produto é um importante componente do processo decisório do consumidor, e tal conhecimento permanece na memória do indivíduo mesmo após ele ter feito, por exemplo, uma compra, investigar o efeito do conhecimento prévio, antes da decisão, na quantidade de informação buscada pelo consumidor após a tomada de decisão endereça uma importante lacuna na literatura sobre o comportamento de busca de informação do consumidor. Esse é o principal motivador para o presente trabalho. Adicionalmente, essa pesquisa investiga a tendência à maximização como um possível moderador da relação entre conhecimento prévio e a busca de informação após a tomada de decisão. Assim, três estudos são reportados (um experimento e duas surveys). Ao longo desses estudos, o efeito simples proposto é investigado em dois estágios da experiência pós-decisão: pre- e pós-uso. Em essência, os resultados indicam que o conhecimento do consumidor (antes da tomada de decisão) aumenta a busca de informação após a decisão. Esse efeito é potencializado para consumidores com mais tendência à maximização. O papel da dissonância cognitiva também foi explorado na relação entre conhecimento prévio e busca de informação após a decisão. Por fim, a incerteza com a escolha foi apresentada como uma possível variável supressora do efeito de conhecimento prévio na varável dependente investigada. / Information search behavior is known to antecede non-trivial decisions, but it may also occur in the post-decision timespan. Researchers have studied individuals’ prior knowledge as a predictor of information sought prior to the decision. Only a few studies have focused on post-decision information seeking, and these studies did not explore the influence of prior knowledge (i.e., decision-related knowledge accumulate prior to the event of the final decision). Because product knowledge is an important component in consumers’ decision-processes and it remains within individuals’ long-term memory after they made the purchase decision, investigating the effect of pre-decision product knowledge on post-decision amounts of information sought might fill an important gap in consumer information-search-behavior literature. This was the main motivation for the current research. Additionally, this work proposes that maximizing tendencies may moderate the relationship between knowledge and post-decision information search. The thesis reports three studies varying in their data collection approach (experimental and survey). Across these studies, the proposed effect was investigated as occurring in two stages of consumers’ post-decision experience: pre-use and post-use. In essence, results indicate that the consumers’ knowledge increases information search during the post-purchase timespan. This effect is stronger among consumers with high maximizing tendencies (individuals that feel the need to maximize their decisions). I also explored the role of cognitive dissonance as a bridging factor to the relationship between prior knowledge and information seeking. Lastly, choice-uncertainty was found to suppress effects of prior knowledge.