Larry comes to college absolutely believing that it is wrong to ever drink alcohol.After a while,he starts to drink very moderately at parties even though doing so makes him anxious.What would dissonance theory suggest that Larry will do and why?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dissonance theory suggests that when someone's beliefs and behaviors are in conflict, they experience psychological discomfort. Larry's belief that drinking is wrong is in conflict with his behavior of drinking at parties. To reduce this discomfort, he may change his beliefs to be more aligned with his behavior, leading him to decide that moderate drinking is not really a problem.

Larry Comes to College Absolutely Believing That It Is Wrong