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 re-rank the 10 albums, he re-ranks #4 as #2. This example is best predicted by:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This example is best explained by cognitive dissonance theory, which suggests that people experience psychological discomfort when their attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent. In this case, Joe's initial ranking of #5 created cognitive dissonance when he later chose #4 instead. To reduce this discomfort, Joe re-evaluated his opinion of #4 and ranked it higher the second time around.

Joe Is Given the Choice Between Two Record Albums He