A woman who wants a baby but is opposed to using medical intervention to become pregnant is informed by her doctor that she will never conceive without medical intervention. Cognitive dissonance theory predicts that this woman is most likely to do all of the following, EXCEPT:

Question

A woman who wants a baby but is opposed to using medical intervention to become pregnant is informed by her doctor that she will never conceive without medical intervention.  Cognitive dissonance theory predicts that this woman is most likely to do all of the following, EXCEPT:

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecba2d_0d47_8c75_a3bf_892097f99862_MD0008_00 According to cognitive dissonance theory, cognitive dissonance (mental conflict) results from beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors that are contradictory or incompatible. Cognitive dissonance causes a state of discomfort that results in motivation to reduce the conflict by aligning thoughts and/or behaviors. A woman who wants a baby but does not believe in medical intervention to conceive should experience cognitive dissonance if her doctor says she cannot become pregnant without such intervention, because the new information directly contradicts her belief. Therefore, cognitive dissonance theory predicts that she will alter her attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors to reduce the resulting discomfort. The only course of action that will not reduce the discomfort would be accepting her doctor's diagnosis and maintaining her stance against medical intervention. This course of action would maintain the dissonance, which is not consistent with the central tenet of cognitive dissonance theory. (Choice A) A second opinion that undermines the first diagnosis would reduce cognitive dissonance, so seeking a second opinion from another doctor is something the woman is likely to do. (Choice B) If the woman changes her attitude about using medical intervention to become pregnant, she would align her beliefs with her doctor's diagnosis, thereby reducing cognitive dissonance. (Choice D) If the woman does not want to alter her belief about using medical intervention to become pregnant, she could instead alter her attitude about wanting a baby. Deciding that she does not want a baby would also reduce cognitive dissonance. Educational objective: Cognitive dissonance theory predicts that contradictory or incompatible beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors cause a state of mental discomfort (cognitive dissonance) that results in motivation to reduce the conflict by aligning thoughts and/or behaviors.

A Woman Who Wants a Baby but Is Opposed to Using