MacKinnon, Neil J. 1994. Symbolic Interactionism as Affect Control. Albany: State University of New York Press. Chapter 3: Cognition, Affect and Motivation

overhead 1

Three Basic Perspectives about the Relation between Cognition and Affect

 

I. Rigid Distinction between Cognition and Affect leads to the Primacy Debate.

1. Cognition => Affect

2. Affect => Cognition

 

II. Affect and Cognition as analytical entities

1. Cognitions and Affect are Complementary

2. Cognition and Affect: Two Sides of the same Coin (Sentiment)

 

III. No Distinction between Cognition and Affect

1. There are only Sentiments:

2. There are only Sentiments with different Intensity

 

overhead 2

Affect Control Theory and Cognitive Dissonance Theory

 

ACT

 

Cognitive Dissonance

 

Social: Intersubjectivity

 

 

Nonsocial: Innersubjectivity

Cognitions are isolated within the individual

 

Social: Deflection

is the difference between a social event (ABO) and the fundamental sentiments of its components (A,B, and O)

 

Nonsocial: Dissonance

is the inconsistency

= imbalanced state

= disharmonious state (Heider)

= incongruity (Osgood & Tannenbaum)

between two cognitions

 

Social: Magnitude of Deflection depends on the extent to which social norms about social behavior are violated.

 

Nonsocial: Magnitude of Dissonance depends on

  • the importance of the elements

  • proportion of elements that are in a dissonant relationship

 

Social: Production and resolution of affective deflection is based on social events.

 

Nonsocial: Production and resolution of cognitive dissonance is based on individual cognitions.

 

Social: Relatedness of Sentiments

Situated identities are define relations between people at a particular time and place.

 

Nonsocial: The lack of control for the relatedness of cognitions contribute to the main problem of CD theory: “which cognitions are relevant? Ask Leo”

 

Sentiments consider affect and cognition.

 

Only cognitions are considered.

 

Disruption or imbalance refers to inconsistent affective states.

 

Disruption or imbalance refers to inconsistent cognitions.

 

Deflection can be either positive or negative.

 

Dissonance can only be negative.

 

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