Elliot Aronson

Elliot Aronson is an American social psychologist best-known for his books on cognitive dissonance theory and developing theories of social influence. One of the most influential figures in the field of social psychology, his groundbreaking research has contributed to our understanding of how we think and interact.

Born in 1932 in Massachusetts, Elliot Aronson first earned his undergraduate degree in psychology from Brandeis University. He then went on to earn his master’s at Harvard University and a doctorate in social psychology at Stanford. During the 1960’s, his doctoral studies focused on the cognitive dissonance theory. The idea behind this theory is that when someone’s beliefs, attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent with each other, they experience cognitive dissonance. This dissonance causes them to change their beliefs, attitudes and behavior in order to reduce the discomfort they are feeling.

In the 1970’s, Aronson began working on a book about social influence that was eventually published in 1976 as The Social Animal. In this book, he elaborated on his work on the cognitive dissonance theory and developed the theories of social influence. He argued that social influence comes from people’s desire to maintain a particular self-concept and their need to belong to a group. His research has shown that people often have a strong desire to conform to a group, even if it means going against their own beliefs.

During his career, Aronson has published many books and articles on social psychology and cognitive dissonance. His books include The Social Animal, Social Psychology: The New Science, Nobody Left to Hate: Teaching Compassion after Columbine and Mistakes Were Made (But Not by Me). In all of these works, Aronson has continued to explore the implications of the cognitive dissonance theory and how it affects our interactions and decisions.

Aronson’s work has contributed immensely to our understanding of social psychology and continues to be highly influential. He has been awarded numerous honors for his contributions, including the Distinguished Scientific Contributions Award from the American Psychological Association, the James McKeen Cattell Award for lifetime achievement, and a Grawemeyer Award in Psychology. In 2019, Aronson was awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest honor bestowed upon a scientist in the United States.

Despite all of his accomplishments, Aronson is still highly active in the field of social psychology. He continues to lecture, supervise doctoral students, write, and consult on a variety of topics. As one of the world’s leading experts in social psychology and cognitive dissonance, Elliot Aronson continues to contribute heavily to our understanding of how we think and interact.