What is Cognitive Dissonance?
Cognitive dissonance is the mental stress caused when an individual holds two or more conflicting beliefs, values, opinions, attitudes, or ideas simultaneously. It refers to the feeling of discomfort and tension that one experiences when their actions do not align with their beliefs or vice versa. When this happens, individuals may experience psychological distress, which they attempt to reduce through rationalization or denial. This can lead to unconscious efforts to make changes to their behaviors, beliefs, or attitudes.
Sexuality
Sexuality encompasses all aspects of human behavior related to sex, including identity, attraction, feelings, desires, and expression. Sexuality exists on a spectrum and cannot be reduced to a binary form.
Society often imposes rigid gender roles and sexual norms that force people into preconceived categories, leading to cognitive dissonance for those who fall outside these bounds.
Binary Form
A binary form is a system in which everything is divided into two opposite categories, such as male/female, straight/gay, black/white. Inhabiting a sexuality outside of the binary form creates cognitive dissonance because it challenges societal norms and expectations. Individuals may feel pressure to conform to traditional gender roles or risk being labeled as abnormal.
Examples of Cognitive Dissonances
One example of cognitive dissonance arising from inhabiting a non-binary sexuality is the conflict between the desire to express oneself authentically and the fear of rejection or stigma. An individual may face pressure to hide or suppress their true nature, leading to internal turmoil and self-doubt. They may also struggle to navigate social situations and find acceptance.
Another example is the tension between personal experiences and cultural stereotypes. A person may experience intimacy with someone who does not fit their expected partner type, leading to confusion and self-questioning. They may question their own beliefs about love and relationships or worry about how others will perceive them.
Cognitive dissonance arises when individuals are forced into a binary form that contradicts their identity or experience. This can lead to mental stress, anxiety, and self-doubt, making it difficult to live authentically and freely. To avoid this, society must embrace diversity and accept all forms of sexuality without judgment or expectation.
What cognitive dissonances arise from inhabiting a sexuality that others insist must resolve into a stable binary form?
The individual's cognition may experience dissonance when they have not identified with their sexual orientation yet due to social stigmas associated with it. The conflict arises from society's persistent pressure to fit neatly into either heterosexuality or homosexuality, which can create confusion for people who identify as bisexual, queer, pansexual, or other non-binary identities.