The cognitive dissonance singularity: Toward a conceptual model of identity saturation in the digital age a conceptual research paper in psychology and media studies

Abstract

Festingers theory of cognitive dissonance (1957) described a tension between belief and behavior. In this paper we see that the conditions of contemporary digital life have changed both the means and the type of tension. Elaborating on Festinger’s original framework, the social comparison theory (1954), stating people have a natural drive to evaluate their own abilities and worth by comparing themselves with other people. Here context collapse explains why social media creates an environment where many audiences are present. We observe a state we call the Cognitive Dissonance singularity (CDS): a proposed state in which the accumulation of simultaneous, non exclusive identities across digital, social and professional settings exceeds an individual’s capacity to differentiate between them. We trace the variation from a unified self to a performative one, and propose three metrics; chronic dissonance, a threshold effect and identity entropy. We then examine the theoretical foundations and effects of CDS by using excerpts from neuroscience and sociology. Rather than treating chronic dissonance, threshold effects, and identity entropy as measurable variables. We see them as conceptual models for understanding how prolonged exposure to fragmented digital identities may affect self-identity. The model is situated with existing research on the brain and self-identity, default mode network and executive function while remaining distinct. Finally, we consider the implications of CDS for psychological wellbeing.