Michelle Lambert
Reel Paper
Comm 2050-500
Sept 23, 2017
While you were Sleeping and Cognitive Dissonance
Introduction
In the movie, While you were Sleeping, there are several examples of Cognitive
Dissonance. The internal struggle of acting in a way that goes against what you believe to
be right is Cognitive Dissonance. I will analyze the communication in the movie using
the theory, make recommendations on how to improve the communication and conclude
with what I learned about communication in the process of researching this paper.
Movie Background
The movie While you were Sleeping, Lucy is a lonely train station employee in Chicago,
who saves a mans life but the hospital ER wont let him see him. She says out loud I
was going to marry him and a nurse takes him in. When the family gets there, the nurse
tells the police officer and a doctor that she is his fianc and it spirals from there. Lucy
has to spend time with this family which makes her feel less alone, but also makes her act
against her belief that she is a good honest person. Things get really complicated when
she realizes that she has feelings for the brother of her supposed fianc. (Lebow,
Sullivan, & Turteltaub, 1995).
Theory Definition
Cognitive Dissonance is defined as a feeling of discomfort resulting from inconsistent
attitudes, thoughts, and behaviors(pg 113). When Festinger and Brown were developing
this theory, they found that it followed fairly simple principles. For many people, it can
be as simple as doing something you know your parents told you not to do. For others it
has to be something that is bigger, like breaking the law. This theory says that this
discomfort will motivate change.
Analysis of Movie using the Theory
In While you were sleeping, the main character Lucy has a dilemma. She is believed to be
the fianc of a man, Peter, in a coma by his family, but she has never even met him.
Through the week, she spends time with his family and finds she has feelings for his
brother Jack. Lucy wants to tell his family but does not want to hurt them. Peters
godfather, Saul, knows the truth and talks to Lucy.
Saul: Lucy, there is something you should know. The night you visited Peter, I was
outside the door. I know the truth.
Lucy: Im sorry Saul. You know, you dont have to worry because I am going to tell
them everything.
Saul: Dont tell them a thing! Remember the day you said you would never do anything
to hurt the family.
Lucy: Yeah
Saul: Well, since they met you they figured they had Peter back. If you tell them the
truth, you will take him away again. They need you Lucy, just like you need them. I
know you are a good girl and I know you will do the right thing.
Saul is encouraging Lucy to keep acting against her conscience. She wanted to tell them
the truth but if she did Saul confirmed that it would hurt them. Both options were
inconsistent with her feeling of being a good person by telling the truth.
In another exchange, Lucy is having dinner with the whole family. The mother asks Lucy
an uncomfortable question.
Mom: Lucy, do you think you could find me a nice girl for Jack.
Jack: Mother.
Lucy: I, I, I really dont know Jacks type so I
Jack: I like blondes, chubby ones.
(Mom smiles)
Saul: Han Olland wasnt tall.
Dad: Marshall Dillon was 6 ft 5.
Mom: Well, we all know who Lucys type isThese mashed potatoes are so creamy.
Sister: You like brunettes.
(Jack looks at Lucy)
Grandma: I could never make a good pot roast.
Saul: You need good beef. Argentina has great beef. Beef and Nazis.
Dad: John Wayne was tall.
Saul: Dustin Hoffman was 5 ft 6.
Dad: Would you want to see Dustin Hoffman save the Alamo?
Mom: These mashed potatoes are so creamy.
Dad: Spain has good beef.
Mom: Mary mashed them.
Saul: Cesar Romaro was tall.
Grandma: Cesar Romaro was not Spanish.
Saul: I didnt say Cesar Romaro was Spanish.
Grandma: Well, what did you say?
Saul: I said Cesar Romaro was tall.
Grandma: We all know hes tall.
The looks between Jack and Lucy during this dinner are very telling. As Lucy is leaving,
Jack helps her on with her coat and they are under the mistletoe. After the family telling
them to kiss because it is tradition, they do. Jack watches Lucy get in her cab. He cannot
have feelings for his brothers fianc because that would be unacceptable. He is
experiencing Cognitive Dissonance because he feels it would make him an awful person
to fall in love with his brothers fianc and it is widely accepted as wrong. The feelings
are there, nevertheless, and that makes him uncomfortable.
Later in the movie, Peter wakes up from his comma. His family comes to visit and he
does not remember Lucy. Saul tells him that if he does not want to be a putz, he will look
into her eyes as a man who has been given a second chance and he will propose a second
time. He does and the wedding is where Lucy cannot go through with being dishonest
any longer.
Priest: Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to join
Lucy: I object.
Saul: Oh, gee.
Priest: I didnt get to that part yet.
Jack: I would have to object, too.
Priest: (to Peter) What about you?
Peter: Im thinking.
Dad: What the hell is going on?
Lucy: I am in love with your son.
Dad: I know.
Lucy: Not that one, that one (pointing at Jack).
Dad: Jack, what the hell did you do?
Lucy: He didnt do anything. He didnt do anything. It was me, it was all me. Elsie, how
are you doing? You doing okay? UmDo you remember that day at the hospital? Of
course you remember that day at the hospital. Well, there was a little mix up. I saw Peter
get pushed onto the tracks, and I saved his life. But when I got to the hospital, they
wouldnt let me see him, so someone told the doctor that I was his fianc. Only, um..its
not true. I was never engaged to Peter. (deep breath)
Jack: Why didnt you say something?
Lucy: Because I didnt know how to tell you. We never even met until that day on the
tracks. Its just that when we were in the hospital room everything happened so fast, and I
couldnt tell you the truth. And then I didnt wanna tell you the truth, because the truth
was that I fell in love with you.
Dad: Fell in love with me?
Lucy: No, no, yes all of you. I went from being all alone to being a fianc, a daughter, a
granddaughter, a sister, and a friend. I might have saved your life on the tracks, but you
know what? You really saved mine. You allowed me to be a part of your family, and I
havent had that in a really long time. And I just didnt wanna let go of that. So, even
though it was just for a little while, I will love them always. Im very sorry.
She felt a lot better when she was honest with everyone. Her Cognitive Dissonance was
resolved and she found her equilibrium.
Theory Recommendations
This movie struck a chord with many people because sometime to do the right thing, we
are going to have to do a hard thing. When our Cognitive Dissonance makes us so
uncomfortable that we know we have to change something, I hope we would all act on
that.
Conclusion
It all turned out in the end, she got the right guy and they lived happily ever after. When
we find ourselves in a difficult situation, will we go with the flow or tell the truth right
off to avoid the comedy of errors? If we listen to our Cognitive Dissonance it will be
clear.
References
Lebow, Frederic, Sullivan, Daniel G. (Screenplay), & Turteltaub, Jon (Director). (1995).
While you were Sleeping. [Motion picture]. United States: Hollywood Pictures,
Caravan Pictures.
West, R., & turner, L. H. (2000). Introducing communication theory: Analysis and
application. (4th ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
