Joe is given the choice between two record albums he has already ranked as numbers 4 and 5 on a 1-10 scale. Joe chooses #4. Two weeks later when Joe is asked to rerank the ten albums, he reranks #4 as #2. This example is best predicted by:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Joe's choice and subsequent change in ranking suggest that he experienced cognitive dissonance, or a psychological discomfort arising from conflicting attitudes or beliefs. In this case, Joe's initial ranking of #5 may have caused dissonance since he preferred #4, but ranked it lower. His subsequent change in ranking of #4 reflects an attempt to reduce this dissonance by aligning his beliefs and attitudes with his actions.

Joe Is Given the Choice Between Two Record Albums He