Merrill Carlsmith
James Merrill Carlsmith ( April 12 , 1936 – April 19 , 1984 ) was an American social psychologist perhaps best known for his collaboration with Leon Festinger and Elliot Aronson in the creation and development of cognitive dissonance theory . 
<triplet> Merrill Carlsmith <subj> April 12, 1936 <obj> date of birth <subj> April 19, 1984 <obj> date of death <subj> American <obj> country of citizenship <triplet> Leon Festinger <subj> social psychologist <obj> field of work <subj> Elliot Aronson <obj> student <subj> cognitive dissonance theory <obj> field of work <triplet> Elliot Aronson <subj> Leon Festinger <obj> influenced by <triplet> cognitive dissonance theory <subj> social psychologist <obj> studied by