Question 1

Engaging in self-justification strategies as a response to dissonance is a process that can have negative
consequences. Explain how self-justification can be negative, and what one could do to better learn from one's
mistakes.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Engaging in self-justification strategies as a response...

Question 2

The authors of your text explain that when political leaders get caught up in a cycle of self-justification, it can have particularly dangerous consequences. What is their advice for avoiding such a cycle in your own life?

Accepted Answer

The authors suggest learning to evaluate one's own behavior critically and dispassionately as a way to avoid getting caught up in a cycle of self-justification. This means being willing to honestly assess one's actions and decisions, and considering alternative perspectives and feedback from others. While having a support system of friends and family can be helpful, ultimately it is up to the individual to cultivate self-awareness and avoid falling into the trap of rationalizing their own mistakes and bad decisions. Relying heavily on the advice of others or deferring all decisions to one's parents is not necessarily a sustainable or effective long-term strategy for personal growth and development.

Question 3

Ronald wants to start a new club on campus, and he really wants his members to be involved and love the club. How would you suggest he use effort justification to increase members' sense of enjoyment of the club and their loyalty to the club?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ronald wants to start a new club...

Question 4

What did Leon Festinger's (1957) original formulation of dissonance theory posit? Be sure to address what cognitive dissonance is, how and when it arises, and what people do to reduce it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What did Leon Festinger's (1957) original formulation...

Question 5

As Nina lights up her fifteenth cigarette of the day, she glances at the Surgeon General's warning on the package and shrugs, thinking "Eh, cancer is for old people, and not only do I have good genes, the research on cigarettes causing cancer is inconclusive." It is unlikely that Nina will change her behavior and quit smoking unless

Accepted Answer

The answer of As Nina lights up her fifteenth cigarette...

Question 6

Dissonance theorists might assert that just as we suffer for the things we like, we also convince ourselves that we like the things for which we suffer. Use concepts related to the justification of effort to explain this statement.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Dissonance theorists might assert that just as...

Question 7

Carl and Roger both had similar attitudes about cheating on a partner. However, both were faced with similar situations where they could have cheated on their partners. Now, Carl thinks that cheating is the worst offense one can make in a relationship, whereas Roger thinks that most people would cheat if they were faced with the situation. Explain what could have occurred, both socially and psychologically, that could produce such diverse positions from individuals who shared a similar stance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Carl and Roger both had similar attitudes...

Question 8

Over the weekend, you are going to meet your new romantic partner's parents for the first time. In particular, you want your partner's father to like you. How might you use the Ben Franklin effect to get him to like you more? Be sure you include an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Over the weekend, you are going to...

Question 9

Dissonance theory helps us understand the apparently irrational behavior of cult members, such as those in the Heaven's Gate cult and at Jonestown who committed mass suicide. All of the following except ________ tend to increase dissonance and hence the extreme dissonance-reducing commitment to the cult or cause and the beliefs of the leaders.

Accepted Answer

Negative self-concepts do not directly increase dissonance; rather, they may make individuals more susceptible to joining cults, but they do not inherently increase the dissonance that leads to extreme commitment.

Question 10

Imagine you are watching a debate between two presidential candidates. You prefer Candidate A and dislike Candidate B. Both candidates offer strong arguments and weak arguments about Issue X. Which arguments would you be most likely to remember? Which arguments would you be most likely to forget? Is it likely that you change your opinion after having watched the debate? Why or why not?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Imagine you are watching a debate between...

Question 11

Describe cultural differences in the extent to which individuals experience dissonance.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe cultural differences in the extent to...

Question 12

Compare and contrast how cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory (Chapter 5) would explain the Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) $1/$20 experiment. Given that both theories can explain these results, in which situations is dissonance theory more likely to apply and in what conditions is self-perception theory probably operating?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast how cognitive dissonance theory...

Question 13

In addition to the pull of charismatic leaders, the social support of fellow cult members, and the isolation of cult members from dissenting viewpoints, why else to cult members behave as they do?

Accepted Answer

The high degree of cognitive dissonance in members' minds is one of the primary reasons for their behavior in cults. Cult members are typically convinced that their group and its teachings are the only true path to enlightenment or salvation, and that all other viewpoints are misguided or evil. This creates a strong sense of cognitive dissonance when members encounter information or experiences that conflict with their beliefs, leading them to either dismiss the conflicting information or double down on their beliefs and become even more committed to the group's ideology. This cycle can lead to increasingly extreme behavior and a greater willingness to engage in harmful or risky activities in service of the group's goals.

Question 14

Imagine you are about to take a very important exam that could impact your future. A friend asks you how disappointed you think you would be if you found out you did not perform very well on the exam. According to the idea of impact bias, how would your prediction likely match up with your actual reaction?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Imagine you are about to take a...

Question 15

Why does making a decision tend to generate dissonance, how is this dissonance reduced, and under what conditions is postdecisional dissonance reduction the greatest?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why does making a decision tend to...

Question 16

Jessica thinks of herself as a health-conscious person. As she is eating a steak one evening, she sees a news report that consuming red meat increases the risk of breast cancer by over 50 percent! At this moment, she is experiencing a large amount of cognitive dissonance. State the three ways people can reduce dissonance, and apply these techniques to Jessica's dissonance; that is, give an example of each of the three dissonance reduction techniques Jessica could use.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jessica thinks of herself as a health-conscious...

Question 17

The authors of your text explain that some commentators believe the Bush administration was trying to deliberately deceive the American people about the nature of their intentions in the conflict in Iraq. However, the authors of your text suggest that it is likely that the

Accepted Answer

The answer of The authors of your text explain that...

Question 18

Your friend teaches preschool, and there is one little boy in her class who is giving her fits. He is constantly misbehaving, throwing toys, threatening other children, and sometimes even physically attacking them. So far, her stern punishment has stopped his destructive behavior when she's there, but when she leaves the room or when a substitute fills in, he's back to his old ways. You suggest that she use dissonance to change his behavior permanently. What would you tell her?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your friend teaches preschool, and there is...

Question 19

How would a dissonance theorist explain the paradoxical finding that we are apt to like our adversaries after doing them a favor and to dislike our friends after treating them badly?

Accepted Answer

The answer of How would a dissonance theorist explain the...

Question 20

What is counterattitudinal advocacy? How is it related to notions of internal and external justification?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is counterattitudinal advocacy? How is it...

Quiz 6: The Need to Justify Our Actions

Engaging in self-justification strategies as a response to dissonance is a process that can have negative consequences. Explain how self-justification can be negative, and what one could do to better learn from one's mistakes.