Suppose that someone has just opened a new restaurant near your school, and you have been convinced to walk around for 3 hours on a very hot day carrying a big, obnoxious, heavy sign advertising this restaurant. According to ______________, you would probably rate this activity as the most enjoyable (or the least boring) if someone paid you ___________ to do it.
A)the cognitive dissonance theory; $1
B)the self-fulfilling prophecy; $100
C)the self-fulfilling prophecy; $1
D)the cognitive dissonance theory; $100

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory suggests that when there is a discrepancy between our beliefs and our actions, we will change one to match the other to reduce discomfort. If you are paid only $1 for a task that is unpleasant and difficult, you are likely to justify the effort by altering your perception of the activity to be more positive, because the external reward (money) is not sufficient to explain why you engaged in the task. This leads to a greater internal justification for the action.

Suppose That Someone Has Just Opened a New Restaurant near Your