Social identity, cognitive dissonance, and crisis response: attitude change in the face of identity-driven priming

Crises, whether environmental, humanitarian, or political, have become defining features of contemporary society, demanding immediate responses from both individuals and groups. However, the nature of these responses can vary significantly, ranging from extreme polarization and conflict to solidarity, cooperation, and positive transformation. One of the key questions in social psychology is understanding the motivational mechanisms that underlie such divergent responses to crises. This paper contributes to this inquiry by examining how cognitive dissonance, triggered by political identity, influences individual attitudes toward crisis-related topics. Drawing from the theoretical foundations of social identity theory (Tajfel & Turner, 1979) and the concept of cognitive dissonance (Festinger, 1957), this research explores the intersection of social identity and dissonance as motivational forces driving attitude change. Specifically, the study investigates whether invoking a participant’s political identity through priming can evoke cognitive dissonance and subsequently lead to changes in attitudes on crisis-related topics, including immigration and Middle Eastern conflicts. In doing so, this research sheds light on how crises—by challenging established social and political identities—can provoke extreme responses, both in the form of defensive reactions aimed at protecting group identity and more constructive shifts toward broader social and political cohesiveness.