Cognitive Dissonance and the Marketing of Services: Some Issues

Summary

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The theory of cognitive dissonance, first put forward by Leon Festinger is attracting renewed attention and interest. Surprisingly, there is little research and discussion on cognitive dissonance and marketing of services. This research effort discusses precise and specific issues with the help of literature on cognitive dissonance and the marketing of services. How do the different characteristics of services influence the likelihood of cognitive dissonance? What is the likelihood of cognitive dissonance in services of different types? Are the strategies for reducing cognitive dissonance likely to be affected by the characteristics of services? What are the implications of the theory of cognitive dissonance for the advertising of services? Do advertisements of services incorporate measures to address cognitive dissonance among recent buyers? The paper proposes few research propositions in understanding of cognitive dissonance in services domain.

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Extract

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Cognitive Dissonance and the Marketing of Services: Some Issues

INTRODUCTION

The subject of cognitive dissonance is an important one yet there is little research and discussion on cognitive dissonance in services. The authors examine the literature on cognitive dissonance and marketing of services and propose some research propositions.

Cognitive dissonance is a term coined by Leon Festinger in the year 1957. It describes a psychologically uncomfortable state or imbalance that is produced when various cognitions about a thing are not consistent. The classic example of inconsistent cognitions are the knowledge that smoking is injurious to health, the belief that smoking gives pleasure and the need to smoke. Cognitive dissonance leads to motivations to reduce dissonance.

Services are "deeds, process and performances" (Zeithaml and Beitner, 2006, p 3). Their characteristics of intangibility, heterogeneity, inseparability from producer, and perishability dictate that their marketing treatment is different from that required by physical goods.

The issues discussed in this paper are specific and precise. How do the different characteristics of services influence the likelihood of cognitive dissonance? What is the likelihood of cognitive dissonance in services of different types? Are the strategies for reducing cognitive dissonance likely to be affected by characteristics of services? What are the implications of the theory of cognitive dissonance for the advertising of services? Do advertisements of services incorporate measures to address cognitive dissonance among recent buyers?

This research effort is a response not only to the calls for more research in the area of cognitive dissonance but also a response to the ever-increasing importance of services. The impact of services on the world economy is huge and growing (Javalgi and White, 2002). Services are making a significant contribution to t...

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