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LBY2MEA|A61:ConceptPaper
Campos,Fernandez,Javier,Maloles,Swa
CatholicCognitiveDissonanceScale Introduction
Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon experienced by individuals having conflicting cognitions; “if two cognitions are relevant but conflicting, the existence of dissonance would cause psychologicaldiscomfortandmotivatetheindividualtoactuponthis.Thus,thegreaterthe magnitude or severity of dissonance, the greater the pressure for the individual to reduce the dissonance” (Harmon-Jones & Mills, 2019)". The cognitive dissonance theory has been established, but there has yet to be a measure quantifying itsseverity.Especiallyinthereligious context where religious cognitive dissonance is more common when one practices religion, as “people tend to self-justify religious beliefs when contradictory evidence is presented (Melvin, 2010), it isonlynaturalthatthemorereligiousacountryis,themorepeopleexperiencereligious cognitive dissonance. In the Philippines, where the country is primarily religious, the state of mental health counseling has slowly increased, and more and more individualsseekcounseling, especially as how psychology, in general, has broken through a lot of stigmas compared to before. Such change was seen more recently during the COVID-19 pandemic, as the pandemic brought about considerable changeinthecountry'slandscape,especiallyinthecontextofmental health. As more and more people open up to their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, the chances of cognitive dissonance being studied increase, too. With that, the shame, guilt, stress, and severity of religious cognitive dissonance should start being studied, especially with the glaring lack of studies andmeasurementsforthese.InareligiouscountrysuchasthePhilippines – where counseling has historically been less sought after due to religious practices but is now
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progressing andbecomingmoreopen–itisimperativethatascalethatcouldassessandmeasure cognitive dissonance be made. This test aims to provide a scale used to measure the severity of cognitive dissonance experienced by Catholics based on their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors.
The data gathered can better connect the fields of religion and psychology, especially in the contextofthePhilippines,wherethecountryisprimarilyreligious(aspreviouslymentioned)and enriches spiritual, familial, platonic, and educational counseling. This provides a more effective program as understanding and inclusivity are fostered through understanding the effects of Catholicism on cognitive dissonance regarding their practices as they face guilt with these choices/concepts.
Background
“Religion” asemphasizedbyBehereetal.(2013)isdeemedapsychologicalnecessityfor humanity as it deeply influences one's worldviews, identity, and overall mental well-being.
Among the religions, Catholicism as a religion has a global influence; it is very evident in countries like the Philippines wherein 85.6 million citizens identify as Catholics which further depicts its heavy influence on the identities and views of many (Miller, n.d. However, in the present age, World views and perspectives are becoming seemingly more progressive and less conservative as pressing issues like homosexuality, abortion, and others have created a dichotomy among individuals who identify with the catholic belief (Castro, 2019). As views become less conservative, they strayawayfromtheconservativepracticesofcatholicismagainst these new progressive views leading Catholic Individuals to a specific psychological phenomenon known as “Cognitive dissonance”. According to Festinger (1957), The concept is defined as the action when individuals hold conflicting beliefs or attitudes, leading to
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psychological discomfort. In the context of religious beliefs, this can manifestwhenIndividuals who identify as Catholics face contradictions between their personal values or experiences and theteachingsoftheirfaith;suchcognitivedissonancecanbedetrimentalasitcanleadtofeelings ofguilt,stress,shame,andinternalconflict.
To further affirm the existence of religion and cognitive dissonanceintersection, Batalla and Baring (2019) assert that while certain Catholic teachings may provide comfort, others can instigate conflicts that do not align with an individual’s personal beliefs and this inconsistency can result in significant psychological distress which makes it challenging for individuals to reconcile theirfaithwiththeirvaluesandbeliefs.Moreover,Therearenotablegapsinthecurrent field of studies focusing on the intersection of Cognitive Dissonance and Catholicism, a recent study by Anderton et al. (2011), emphasizes that there is a predominant focus on measuring cognitive dissonance among LGBTQIA+ individuals who grapple with religious cognitive dissonance and their sexuality which depicts the glaring absence of an existing scale that measures the actual severity of cognitive dissonance and related feelings that are attributed to religious beliefs without being limited to a specific sexual orientation. Furthermore, Previous studies by Melvin (2010) indicate that dissonant cognitions about personal religious beliefs prompt individuals to employ methods of justification, compensation, and other strategies to reconcile their beliefs despite internal conflicts; With that, There is a lack of quantifiable measure or assessment from these studies to fully comprehend the cognitive dissonance experienced byindividualsofCatholicFaith.Itisworthnotingthatthereexistsacommontheme from the previous studies, which describes that cognitive dissonance is a difficult experience to deal with internally if prolonged and there is a need to resolve this through proper Assessment and intervention following a study byByrneetal.(2023)whichstatesprolongedandunresolved
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cognitive dissonance potentially causes stress, decreased mental well-being, and significantly, a crisisinfaith.
Objectives
The goal of the Cognitive Dissonance Scale is for test takers to identify the severity of dissonance they may feel between their personal beliefs and those oftheCatholicChurch.After taking the test, test takerswillbeabletorecognizetheseverityofcognitivedissonancetheymay experience with conflicting beliefs with theirs and those instilled in them by their Religious association. Test takers may also be able to identify if they experience psychological distress brought on by conflicting religious beliefs and values by acknowledging the severity of the dissonance experienced. The test takers will then be able to address issues of psychological distress such as stress, guilt, and anxiety, as a result of their contradicting religious beliefs, and promote overall better emotional well-being. Lastly, test takers can discover how conflicting personal and religious beliefs may affect their moral decision-making in determining what they deemrightorwrong,andhowtheywillactgiventhesituation.
TargetPopulation
The test was designed for individualsaged18andabovewhopracticeCatholicteachings and values in their lives. This test excludes individuals from other religious backgrounds as the questions in the test do not cover the beliefs and values of other religions besides those of the Catholic faith. Individuals under 18 are also excluded from taking the test as the questions may involve themes that may not be appropriate and applicable for individuals under 18. Those 17 and below may not accurately answer such questions due to their lack of experience and
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cognitive ability to process such questions. Additionally, the test will tacklesensitivetopicsthat may cause discomfort and emotional distress, especially to those not mature enough to understandsuchconcepts.
ContentDomain
The limelight of this particular test will revolve around measuring the severity of cognitive dissonance and stress individuals experience when faced with endeavors that may conflict withtheirreligiousbackground—inthiscircumstance,Catholicism.Individualsdevoted to religious beliefs may often be confronted with strong emotions— for instance, guilt and shame— rather than general cognitive dissonance due to personal inconsistencies or contradictions within their religious teachings (Yousaf & Gober, 2013). Moreover, familiarizing the various content domains in this testisessentialasthediscussionprogresses.Firstly,amental discomfort that occurs from holding two opposing beliefs, principles, or mindsets— individuals who experience cognitive dissonance attempt to relieve the tension in various ways, whether it may be through rejecting, rationalizing, or ignoring new knowledge. Stress is an intricate physiological and psychological response to apparent threats or challenges in this subtest. Catholicism, however, is a religious perspective containing a broad range of beliefs and practices. In essence, the Catholic CognitiveDissonanceStressScaleintendstoidentifywhether there is a connection between the religious upbringing of a Catholic individual and their cognitive-emotional reactions when it comes to situationsthatchallengetheirbeliefs,principles, ormindsets.
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ItemSpecifications
The Catholic Cognitive Dissonance Stress Scale was meticulously developed, with each test item curated within itsrespectivesubtest.Thisrigorousprocessensuresthescale'sreliability and comprehensiveness, providing ideal insights into the target population's perspective and perceptionoftheirinconsistencieswiththeirreligionandactions,beliefs,orbehaviors.
● CatholicismSubtest
○ Regarding Catholicism, this subtest revolves around beliefs about Catholic morality and teachings, especially concerning delicate ethical and social matters. These inquiries consider an individual's adherence to Catholic teachings and opinionsoncontroversialtopicsthatmaydeviatefromthenorm.
● CognitiveDissonanceSubtest
○ The following subtest addresses cognitive dissonance one may experience regarding Catholic practices and beliefs. It examines justifications for upholding Catholic doctrine, inner monologue, and social pressure to conform to religious norms.
● StressSubtest
○ Stress, a state of mental tension or worry imposed upon them by an unfamiliar circumstance, is a subtest that perceives how individuals react to contradicting ideas—essentially,exploringtheconnectionbetweenstressandCatholicism.
● CombinationSubtest
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○ The internal conflict individuals encounter in attempting to balance their ideologies with Catholic norms and teachings is explored in the combination subtest. Drawing attention to the tension and uncertainty resulting from personal values at odds with Catholic doctrines, the difficulties in striking a balance between religious teachings and views, and the personal challenges individuals have when attempting to reconcile their relationship with Catholicism and their beliefs. Ultimately, this exploration presents a greater comprehension of how Catholics interpret and navigate cognitive dissonance within the context of their faith. To consider the capacity in which individuals engageincognitivedissonancebehaviors,howcloselytheyadheretoCatholic teachings,orhowstronglytheyfeelcompelledtodoso.
ItemDevelopment
The development of test items was rooted in key constructs of Catholic Cognitive Dissonance, based on established theoretical frameworks and literature. Festinger’s Cognitive Dissonance Theory (1957) and Hypocrisy Paradigm by Yousaf & Gouber. This, in turn, helped construct subsets to explore different dimensions of cognitive dissonance and have participants reflect on their inconsistencies with their religion and actions, beliefs, or behaviors. Religious individuals who realize personal inconsistencies concerning their religion aremorelikelytofeel stronger emotions, such as guilt and shame than what general cognitive dissonance (e.g., regardinggeneralbehaviorelicits(Yousaf&Gober,2013).
SubtestDesignDevelopment
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● Theorderofsubtestsiscrucialforparticipantstofirstrecalltheirexperienceseffectively andthenapplythemtosubsequentquestions.Thelatterhalfofthequestions/subtests specificallyaddressthepsychologicalimpactofcognitivedissonance,includingstress, guilt,anddiscomfort.
● CatholicismSubtest
○ ItemsinthissectiongaugedthestrengthofadherencetoCatholicbeliefsusing commonreligiouspracticesandbeliefstocaptureindividualvariationsin religiouspracticeandconviction
○ Parameters: How strongly do I adhere to Catholic beliefs?
● CognitiveDissonanceSubtest
○ Itemsinthissectionaimedtoevokereflectionsonpastorcurrentexperiencesof cognitivedissonance,drawinginspirationfromthehypocrisyparadigm. Participantswerepromptedtocallinstanceswheretheiractionsorbeliefs conflictedwiththeirCatholicbeliefs.
○ ItemDevelopmentwasbasedonthehypocrisyparadigmbyYousaf&Gober (2013),whereinparticipantswereaskedtothinkofpastfailuresandlapsesin theirbehavior,whichhelpedthemadvocateandperformthatcertainbehavior.
○ Parameters: Have I experienced past or current occurrences of Cognitive dissonance based on my previous religious actions/beliefs (based on previous subtest)?
● StressSubtest
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○ Itemsinthissubjectaskedabouttheirexperiencesofstressarisingfromcognitive dissonance,examininghowdiscomfortmanifestswhenfacedwithinconsistencies betweentheirbeliefsandactions.
○ Parameters: Do I experience stress because of Cognitive dissonance?
● CombinationSubtest
○ Itemsinthissegmentdelvedintotheintersectionofcognitivedissonanceand Catholicism.Ittestedtheconsequencesofcognitivedissonance,helping participantsreflectonfeelingsofdiscrepancybetweenattitudesandbehaviors.
○ ItemDevelopmentwasbasedonthereligiousversionofthehypocrisyparadigm ofYousaf&Gober(2013).Byaskingindividualshowimportanttheythinkthata givenreligiousactivityis,andthenaskingthemhowfrequentlytheyhave engagedinthatactivity,cognitivedissonancewasexpectedtoresultinindividuals whofeltthattheyhadnotengagedinthegivenreligiousactivitiessufficiently
○ Parameters: How do I confront my feelings of dissonance and cope with it?
ProceduresforItemWriting,Review,andRevision
● ItemWritingGuidelines
○ Itemsshouldfocusononeconstructatatime,aboutcognitivedissonance,stress, ortheircombination,ensuringclarityandspecificity
○ Questionsmustinvokeandreflectinstancesofcognitivedissonancespecifically relatedtoCatholicbeliefs,fosteringintrospectionandself-awarenesswithina Catholicismcontext
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○ Itemsshouldbeformattedusingclearandconciselanguage,withoutany double-barrelquestionsforaccurateinterpretationofrespondents
● ReviewProcess
○ Consultationswiththeprofessorprovidedguidanceandfeedbackonensuring theoreticalapplicabilityaswellascommentsonusingclearandconcise formattingofquestions.
○ Itemsunderwentcomprehensiveevaluationandvalidationfrom3licensed psychologiststoensureinternalconsistency,accuracy,relevance,andadherence toconstructs.
○ Itemswerecarefullyreviewedtoensureconsistencywithexistingliteratureon cognitivedissonance,distress,discomfort,andtheconnectionwithCatholic beliefs.
● RevisionProcess&Procedures
○ Afterreceivingfeedbackfromprofessors,andlicensedpsychologists,itemswere rewordedandrephrasedduetotheneedforclarity,length,anduseof double-barrelledquestions.
○ Itemswereshortenedtoremoveambiguityandmisinterpretationfrom respondents
○ Reviseditemsundergopilottesting(atotalof80respondents)toevaluatecontent validity,ensuringallitemsmeasuretheintendedconstructsaccuratelyaswellas internalconsistency,ensuringthatitemswithineachsubtestcorrelatewellwith eachother
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TestPurposeandContentDomain
PurposeoftheTestandIntendedUse
The CatholicCognitiveDissonanceStressScaleisascalethatmeasuresindividualswhoidentify as catholic and their experienced level of cognitive dissonance and stress that is caused by conflicts between theirpersonalbeliefsandtheteachingsofthecatholicchurch.Thistestintends to provideinsightsintothepsychologicalchallengesCatholicsfaceinreconcilingtheirfaithwith their values and beliefs. The scale aims to identify the specific areas of religious teachings that may be causing cognitive dissonance and resulting stress which may call for facilitating interventionandsupport.
AreasofKnowledge,Skills,orAbilitiestobeAssessed
TheCatholicCognitiveDissonanceScaleAssessesthefollowingareasrelatedtocognitive dissonanceandstresswithinthecontextofCatholicbeliefs:
● CognitiveDissonanceSeverity
○ Measurementofthelevelofcognitivedissonanceexperiencedbytheindividual
● PsychologicalDistress:EvaluationofPsychologicalImpact
○ The scale will measure the psychologicalimpactoftheirCatholicbeliefswiththe psychologicalphenomenonofCognitiveDissonanceandStress
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● Faith-BasedConflicts
○ The scale will further assess the possible conflicts engaged by the individual in aligningtheirfaithandbeliefswiththeCatholicDoctrine
● MoralDecision-Making
○ Thescalepossessesquestionsexaminingconflictingpersonalandreligiousbeliefs andhowtheyinfluencetheirpersonaldecision-making.
● Emotionalwell-being
○ The scale covers emotional well-being and methods utilized to managecognitive dissonanceandstress.
● Self-Awareness
○ The scale covers areas of Self-awareness into one’s cognitive dissonance and stressthatoccursinreflectionofthefaith-basedconflictsandchallenges.
EthicalConsiderations
As the test involves religion and cognitive dissonance, validity and reliability, cultural sensitivity, data privacy, and informed consent must be addressed before the start of the actual test. Validity and reliability checks should be accomplished to ensure that the test accurately measures cognitive dissonance. This was done through statistical analyses in Jamovi for Test Reliability, which garnered a sufficient Cronbach alpha score that proved its reliability Experts also reviewed the test items. Multiple psychometricians cross-checked the scales, ensuring the test’s validity. This cross-checking ensured that there was no bias in the testitems,too.Cultural sensitivity was ensured through the aforementioned cross-checkingbysaidpsychometricians,as
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the psychometricians were all practicing religion andwereproficientintheirfields.Lastly,since psychometricians were the ones who checked thescalesanditems,thetopicsensitivityandtheir phrasingwereguaranteedtobeappropriate.
The test provides participants with their informedconsentbeforethetestproper,wherein they are tobeawareofwhatthetestisabout,thepurposeofthetest,andhowthetestresultswill be used for futureresearchandcounselingpurposes.Furthermore,theinformedconsentincludes the data privacy consent form, in which they consent to give their datatothetestadministrators (where the data privacy form explains the Data Privacy Act, thus guaranteeing their confidentiality) and are to be awarethatparticipationisvoluntary.Thisalsoincludesastatement thatmentionshowtheycanwithdrawatanytimewithoutanypenalties.
Sincethetestisadministeredthroughaseriesofitems,theproceduresarestandardizedas is. Participants are to answer the itemsthroughaquestionnaire,ideally,GoogleForms,toensure consistency across all participants. With that, participants were pre-screened so that there were pre-requisites for participants – 18-25 years old, Catholic, and an undergraduate student in any university within the Philippines. Since participants hadtofilluptheirdemographicinformation aswell,thosewhodidnotmatchthepre-requisiteswouldhavetheirtestresultsvoid.
Conclusion
The Catholic Cognitive Dissonance Scale is one of the steps toward addressing a gap in psychological assessment revolving around the intersection between Catholicism and Cognitive dissonance. By using key frameworks such as Festinger’s (1957)theoryofcognitivedissonance or Yousaf &Goubet's(2013)hypocrisyparadigm,ithascreatedaguidetowardsthecreationofa
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quantifiable measure of theseverityofcognitivedissonanceexperiencedbyCatholicswhenthey experience inconsistencies with their actions/beliefs causing stress and discomfort. The scale's content domain covers crucial aspects such as cognitive dissonance severity, psychological distress, faith-based conflicts, moral decision-making,emotionalwell-being,andself-awareness.
Through rigorous item development, review, andrevisionprocesses,thescaleensuresreliability, validity,andculturalsensitivity,thusupholdingethicalstandardsinpsychologicalassessment.
The purpose of this test essentially offer insights for psychological professionals tohave a better understanding of the well-being of individuals who practice Catholicism, offering potential information towards interventions and support systems tailored to address cognitive dissonance-related stress. The Catholic Cognitive Dissonance scaleisavaluabletooltopinpoint the particular aspects of religious teachings that could be sources of cognitive dissonance and subsequentstress,therebyhighlightingareaswhereinterventionandsupportmaybenecessary.
References
Anderton,C.L.,Pender,D.A.,&Asner-Self,K.K.(2011).AreviewoftheReligious Identity/SexualOrientationIdentityConflictLiterature:RevisitingFestinger’sCognitive DissonanceTheory Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 5(3–4),259–281.
https://doi.org/10.1080/15538605.2011.632745
Byrne,M.,Higgins,A.,&deVries,J.(2023).Cognitivedissonanceanddepression:A qualitativeexplorationofacloserelationship. Current Research in Social Psychology, 32, Article1.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370214861_COGNITIVE_DISSONANCE_AN D_DEPRESSION_A_QUALITATIVE_EXPLORATION_OF_A_CLOSE_RELATIONS
HIP
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Castro,N.(2019).TheInterfacebetweenReligionandPoliticsinThePhilippinesBasedonData fromRecentPhilippineElections. International Journal of Interreligious and Intercultural Studies (Online), 2(2),100–107.
https://doi.org/10.32795/ijiis.vol2.iss2.2019.454
Festinger,L.(1957).Atheoryofcognitivedissonance.Evanston,IL:Row,Peterson.
Melvin,J.R.(n.d.). Cognitive dissonance and its effects on religious beliefs.ScholarsCrossing.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/honors/178/ Miller,J.(n.d.). Religion in the Philippines AsiaSociety
https://asiasociety.org/education/religion-philippines
Yousaf,O.,&Gobet,F.(2013).TheEmotionalandAttitudinalConsequencesofReligious Hypocrisy:ExperimentalEvidenceUsingaCognitiveDissonanceParadigm. The Journal of Social Psychology, 153(6),667–686.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2013.814620