This process of adapting institutions to new purposes is a normal part of cultural life. Generally, people are disposed to use whatever is at hand (be it a tool, organization or idea) to deal with a problem. This approach may be effective in resolving an immediate problem, but it means that the item may come to have a function different from if not at odds with its original role. The resulting cognitive state may then become one of schematic dissonance, with language strained to match up altered behavior to established values. In the extreme, a system becomes irrelevant to itself.

As in the case of cognitive dissonance in an individual, tension will motivate society to achieve consonance. In both cases, the schema will strive to save itself, so if challenging data or disturbing perceptions cannot be ignored or rejected, words will be redefined so as to convert dissonance into confusion. The discrepancy between behavior and superego values will thus be reduced at the expense of identity. While an appearance of continuity with the past is maintained, words are revalued to lend verbal support to prevailing behavioral norms.

Thus, there are three methods by which we can induce irrelevance: 1.) adhere to an obsolete verbal value system while adopting new behaviors, 2.) adhere to obsolete behavioral norms while professing new values, and 3.) devise a compromise conflict between necessary behavior and converted values. All three are maladaptive in their own ways, but the compromise conflict condition is by far more common than the two extremes, as it disperses stress over both fields.

The first method is the English mode of clinging to tradition while moving toward resolution of real problems. The history of the House of Lords is an admirable example of a traditional system retaining its tradition and little else while Commons tends to reality. The second method is that of the phony liberal who agrees that change is necessary but never gets around to it. A folksy example would be the American who, in the 1960's, agreed that the schools would have to be integrated—someday. The third method (i.e., compromise) is one of virtuous pragmatism: one adapts as necessary and makes it appear to be ideal. An example of this process is found in the optimist who tries to convince himself and anyone who will listen that necessity is "Right on", this is the best of all worlds possible at this moment, and current behavior is the realization of historic tradition and religious morality.

All three methods reduce dissonance by distorting information—by denying reality and/or inventing fantasy. This distortion is the mechanism

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