Marcia is unsure about whether Jan is her best friend. She thinks about how many times she has listened to Jan complain about her boyfriend, helped Jan study for difficult exams, and brought soup to Jan when she was sick. Marcia realizes that she, herself, calls or visits Jan almost every night. After thinking about all this, Marcia concludes that Jan must be her best friend. This conclusion is based on a process described by ____ theory.

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Marcia's conclusion about her friendship with Jan is based on her observations of her own behavior towards Jan. According to self-perception theory, individuals infer their attitudes and feelings by observing their own behavior and the context in which it occurs, especially when they are unsure about their feelings. Marcia's realization that she engages in behaviors indicative of a close friendship leads her to conclude that Jan must be her best friend.

Marcia Is Unsure About Whether Jan Is Her Best Friend