Final answer:
Cognitive dissonance in the poem 'I felt a funeral, in my brain' can be interpreted as the speaker's internal conflict and psychological turmoil. The resolution is not clear but the evolution of the speaker's mindset throughout the poem suggests a confrontation with cognitive dissonance. Strategies to reduce dissonance include behavior change, belief adjustment, informational seeking, and alteration of belief significance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Cognitive dissonance is a psychological discomfort that occurs when an individual has conflicting beliefs or behaviors, leading to a mismatch with their positive self-perception. This can happen when actions do not line up with personal beliefs, such as an individual who believes that smoking is bad but continues to smoke. In the poem I felt a funeral, in my brain, the speaker may be experiencing cognitive dissonance through the metaphorical representation of mental turmoil and conflicting feelings.
The poem can be read through the lens of someone experiencing cognitive dissonance as the speaker grapples with their inner conflicts and psychological pain. While it is not explicitly stated whether the speaker overcomes their dissonance, the poem's journey through the chaotic mental event to the final sense of plunging demonstrates an evolution of the speaker's mindset. It is open to interpretation whether this symbolizes resolving the dissonance or surrendering to it.
Examples of how individuals might resolve cognitive dissonance include changing their behavior to align with their beliefs, adjusting their beliefs to justify their behavior, seeking new information, or reducing the importance of the conflicting belief. Such strategies are used to achieve a state of harmony and reduce discomfort.