Perhaps the idea of cognitive dissonance is still real in part, but we should no longer use that story about the cult as an example.

And I would caution anyone to be wary of any claims made regarding social psychological research.  They just love to do these cute experiments that get headlines but the results are often exaggerated, misinterpreted, or downright fraudulent.


SimpleStacker

While the replication crisis is real, esp in social sciences, note that the construct of "dissonance" has a broader application than Festinger's formulation in 

, or the replication study mentioned in the article.

For instance, there's the phenomenology of dissonance (how does it feel to express one thing and feel another), whether and how people resolve these consistencies, etc.  There are also related terms that get at related aspects of the phenomenon like cognitive consistency.  All make different claims and have different scopes.

Point is, it would be a mistake to extend this criticism too far.

BooksAndArticles

Is Cognitive Dissonance Actually a Thing?

Scoresby

While the replication crisis is real, esp in social sciences, note that the construct of "dissonance" has a broader application than Festinger's formulation in _When Prophecy Fails_, or the replication study mentioned in the article.  

For instance, there's the phenomenology of dissonance (how does it feel to express one thing and feel another), whether and how people resolve these consistencies, etc.  There are also related terms that get at related aspects of the phenomenon like cognitive consistency.  All make different claims and have different scopes.

Point is, it would be a mistake to extend this criticism too far.