When “Barbie,” the movie, was released, I was convinced that I did not need to watch a film about dolls.
It wasn’t until a colleague said that the film tackled the complexity of cognitive dissonance that I bought a ticket.
As a therapist, I’ve studied and helped patients discover the power of cognitive dissonance for decades. Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort that arises when we experience conflicting beliefs or attitudes.
For instance, someone who takes pride in being financially responsible but often makes impulsive purchases experiences cognitive dissonance. As does a person who usually gets good reviews at work and is told their projects are failing to meet expectations.
When our choices and actions conflict with our beliefs, they can be stressful and anxiety-provoking experiences. To alleviate cognitive dissonance, a person may try to rationalize their choices or lie to themselves about what is happening. These attempts can lead to guilt, low self-esteem and incessant internal conflict.
Recognizing cognitive dissonance, though, can serve as a motivator for positive change. Experiencing this discomfort can lead to self-reflection, openness to other ideas and beliefs, and a recommitment to healthier behaviors and personal growth.
To my surprise and delight, I discovered that Barbie’s journey from Barbieland to the real world and back shows how we can use the gift of cognitive dissonance to change our lives.
In Barbieland, everything and everyone, including all the Barbies (and Kens), are perfect — pretty, intelligent, cool and never sad. The perfection of Barbieland allows Barbie to form beliefs such as “women are powerful, they can do anything, they run the world, they are perfect.”
Like many of us, she uses her belief system to predict the world. Barbie predicts, for instance, that everyone will like her. When they do, it confirms her beliefs, and her brain is happy that the world is as it should be. As Barbie exclaims early in the film, “It is the best day ever. So was yesterday, and so is tomorrow, and every day from now until forever.”
Dissonance hits, though, when Barbie thinks of death and her feet go flat. Her beliefs — “I am perfect” — no longer match her reality — “I have flat feet.”
To fix this dissonance and avoid reality, Barbie takes a trip to the Real World, believing that her problems will be solved if she can find the child who is playing with her and cheer them up. (cont.)