The Confrontation of COVID-19 in the Brazilian Context in the Light of the Theory of Cognitive Dissonance

The crisis of the new Coronavirus has provoked existentially threatening reactions in several aspects. This literature review on coping with COVID-19 is based on the theoretical framework of cognitive dissonance theory as applied to the behavior and attitudes of Brazilians. The methodology used was restricted to the following criteria: classical texts of social psychology, such as those of Leon Festinger and his contemporary collaborators, and of the social psychologists of the school of the theory of cognitive dissonance, taking into account its main paradigms. Based on articles published on the difficulties of the Brazilian context in confronting the pandemic, we aim to promote reflections and articulations with the theme. The main concepts of the theory are presented as related to the social dynamics underlying the pandemic, as an explanation, or not, of the adherence processes in the Brazilian context. We suggest that there is dissonance in different groups in Brazil about what is known and what is done, and that many people use simple solutions for complex problems.