Psychology researchers approached people who were standing in line to bet on a horse race,and they asked each person which horse he or she planned to bet on and why.Another researcher asked those people the same questions after they had placed the bet but before the race had begun.Given your knowledge of social psychology,you could predict that after placing the bet,people would be _____ about their chosen horse because of _____.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This scenario reflects postdecisional dissonance, which is the feeling of discomfort that arises when a person's actions or beliefs contradict each other, leading them to change their attitudes to reduce the discomfort. After placing a bet, people may feel more positive about their chosen horse because they want to justify their decision and reduce the dissonance between their actions (placing the bet) and their beliefs (the horse they chose to bet on).

Psychology Researchers Approached People Who Were Standing in Line to Bet