What are the differences of Cognitive Dissonance Theory CDT to Heiders balance Theory?
• How to explain thrill seeking behavior • Heider’s principle of structural balance does not involve strong psychological forces of compelling need such as anxiety [in contrast to cognitive dissonance]. Instead, forces of balance have the same character as gestalt forces toward “good figures” in the perception of forms. • In Heider=s balance theory the nonU relation is seen as a negative relation (Heider page 202: relations between two elements are negative (DL and notU)). This means, if there is no relation between two people there is disharmony. So it is relevant. For CDT however, if there is no relation, the cognitive relation it is simply not relevant. So it is not negative and will not influence any motivations • I did not see the focus on reality stated so explicitly in Heider.
