Leon Festinger

Leon Festinger (May 8, 1919 – February 11, 1989) was an influential psychologist known for his theories of cognitive dissonance and social comparison theory. His work has had a significant impact on the field of social psychology and continues to influence research and theory in psychology and other disciplines.

Early Life and Education

Festinger was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Russian-Jewish immigrants. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the City College of New York in 1939. He went on to earn a Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Iowa in 1942 under the supervision of Kurt Lewin, a pioneer in the field of social psychology.

Career

After completing his Ph.D., Festinger taught at several universities, including the University of Michigan, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Stanford University. He also served as a research associate at the Research Center for Group Dynamics at MIT.

Festinger's most significant contribution to psychology was his theory of cognitive dissonance, which he first proposed in the late 1950s. This theory suggests that individuals experience discomfort when they hold two or more contradictory beliefs, values, or attitudes and are motivated to reduce this discomfort by changing their beliefs, values, or attitudes.

Festinger also developed the social comparison theory, which posits that individuals determine their own social and personal worth based on how they compare themselves to others. This theory has been influential in understanding social behavior and self-perception.

Legacy

Festinger's theories continue to be influential in the field of psychology. His work on cognitive dissonance has been applied to a wide range of phenomena, including decision-making, attitude change, and behavior change. His social comparison theory has also been widely used in research on self-esteem, self-concept, and social behavior.

See Also

• Cognitive Dissonance
• Social Comparison Theory
• Social Psychology