Question 1

When people try to maintain their self-esteem and reduce cognitive dissonance, they may resort to maladaptive thinking known as

Accepted Answer

Maladaptive thinking which involves maintaining self-esteem and reducing cognitive dissonance is known as rationalizing. It involves creating explanations or justifications for one's thoughts or behaviors that may not be accurate or rational in order to feel better about oneself. Heuristics and schemas are not necessarily focused on maintaining self-esteem, and norms are sets of expectations or rules within a group or society.

Question 2

George thinks of himself as an honest person until his brother reminds him that he's been known to keep extra change given to him by a cashier and to stock his home office for a sideline business with supplies taken from his job.George is now probably feeling a sense of discomfort known as

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort that arises when a person's attitudes or beliefs are inconsistent with their behavior. In this case, George's self-concept as an honest person conflicts with his actions of keeping extra change and taking office supplies, which may create a sense of discomfort or dissonance.

Question 3

According to the authors of your text, one of the most powerful determinants of human behavior stems from our need to

Accepted Answer

The text notes that humans have a strong need to preserve and maintain a relatively favorable view of themselves, which can influence their behavior. This need for self-enhancement can manifest in various ways, such as seeking out positive feedback, downplaying negative feedback, and engaging in behaviors that boost one's self-esteem.

Question 4

"Live fast and die young, that's what I always say," Rosie pronounces, as she stuffs down three more Ding-Dong snack cakes and opens another pint of high-fat ice cream.Rosie knows that her diet is unhealthy and harmful, of course.To reduce her dissonance, Rosie is

Accepted Answer

Rosie is adding a cognition that is consonant with her problem behavior by justifying her unhealthy eating habits with the belief that living fast and dying young is acceptable. This helps reduce her cognitive dissonance by creating a more consistent attitude towards her actions despite the knowledge that they are detrimental to her health.

Question 5

A tobacco grower says, "I'm not the only one growing it.If I stop, someone else will be there." Assuming that the man was experiencing dissonance from the fact that he was making his living from a crop that is bad for people's health, he appears to be reducing this dissonance by

Accepted Answer

He is adding new cognitions (justifications) to reduce the dissonance between his actions and the knowledge of tobacco's harmful effects, without changing his behavior or beliefs about tobacco.

Question 6

Hai has been taking expensive beta-carotene supplements for years because he believes they will reduce his risk of cancer.Hai has just learned that a well-controlled study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine showed that beta-carotene supplements do not reduce cancer risk.Hai is probably experiencing

Accepted Answer

Hai's belief that beta-carotene supplements reduce cancer risk conflicts with the new information he learned from the study published in the New England Journal of Medicine. As a result, he is experiencing cognitive dissonance, which is the discomfort that arises from holding two conflicting beliefs or values at the same time.

Question 7

Members of the Heaven's Gate cult, who "knew" there was a spaceship following the Hale-Bopp comet, returned a perfectly good telescope they had purchased because they failed to see the spaceship they "knew" was there.Such behaviors demonstrate that

Accepted Answer

This behavior demonstrates the concept of cognitive dissonance, where individuals may go to extreme lengths to justify their beliefs and actions, even in the face of contradictory evidence or reality. It is not necessarily a reflection of cult leaders or the personalities of cult members. The fourth option is not relevant to the given scenario.

Question 8

When people receive bad news-perhaps that they did not get a dream job they applied and interviewed for-what tends to happen?

Accepted Answer

The answer of When people receive bad news-perhaps that they...

Question 9

Susan carefully rinses her mouth with an unpleasant-tasting mouthwash every day.One day, Susan reads an article reporting credible dental research that suggests that mouthwash is completely ineffective and that mouthwash may even be related to tooth decay.The discomfort that Susan experiences in response to this article is called

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance refers to the discomfort or tension that arises from holding two conflicting beliefs or attitudes. In this case, Susan has been using mouthwash regularly, believing it to be beneficial for her dental health, but with the new information stating that it's ineffective, she experiences cognitive dissonance or discomfort.

Question 10

You've recently learned that eating avocados, which you love, is bad for your health.To reduce the dissonance you experience after reading this news, you would most likely

Accepted Answer

Questioning the validity of the research and the integrity of the scientists is a common way to reduce cognitive dissonance, which occurs when someone holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. In this case, the love for avocados conflicts with the new information that they are bad for health, leading to dissonance. To reduce this discomfort, one might discredit the source of the conflicting information.

Question 11

When people act contrary to their self-perceptions as reasonable and sensible people, they experience a feeling known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance is the feeling of discomfort that arises when a person's behavior conflicts with their self-perception or beliefs. This discomfort can lead to changes in attitudes or behavior to reduce the dissonance. A and B are not accurate descriptions of this phenomenon, and C is not related to this specific concept.

Question 12

"There's no way I'd give up drinking! I'd just be stressed out all the time," says Lilly, as she sips her third martini of the evening.Lilly's comments about her drinking habit are an example of using ________ to reduce cognitive dissonance.

Accepted Answer

Lilly's comments about not giving up drinking despite the potential negative consequences suggest that she is justifying her behavior in order to reduce cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort that arises from holding two conflicting beliefs or engaging in behavior that is inconsistent with one's beliefs or values. By justifying her drinking, Lilly is attempting to reduce the dissonance between her desire to drink and her knowledge that excessive alcohol consumption can be harmful.

Question 13

Of the following, how are individuals most likely to reduce cognitive dissonance?

Accepted Answer

Individuals are most likely to reduce cognitive dissonance by adding new cognitions that are consistent with their behavior. This can involve seeking out information or beliefs that align with their actions or finding ways to rationalize and justify their behavior. Pretending the behavior didn't happen (A) or reducing the total number of cognitions (B) are less effective strategies for reducing cognitive dissonance. Decreasing arousal (D) may temporarily distract from the discomfort of cognitive dissonance, but it does not address the underlying conflict of inconsistent beliefs and actions.

Question 14

Emile just ditched a friend at a party to spend time with a pretty woman.Emile feels uncomfortable but he tells himself it's because the woman is so hot and not because he treated his friend badly.The way he's feeling is dissonance, but he tells himself it's sexual attraction.This describes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Emile just ditched a friend at a...

Question 15

Rudy thinks that if he ever got kicked off the football team he would be depressed for months, and that his life would lose all meaning.In actuality, his response would probably not be this severe or prolonged.What is Rudy demonstrating?

Accepted Answer

Rudy is demonstrating the impact bias, which refers to the tendency to overestimate the emotional impact of future events. He believes that if he gets kicked off the football team, his life will lose all meaning and he will be depressed for months. However, the actual impact of this event may not be as severe or prolonged as he anticipates.

Question 16

Cognitive dissonance always

Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance refers to the uncomfortable state a person experiences when they are presented with information that contradicts their beliefs or values. This discomfort can lead to a variety of responses, including rationalization or a change in behavior, but the primary feature of cognitive dissonance is the discomfort itself. Therefore, B)produces discomfort is the best choice.

Question 17

The most typical ways of reducing dissonance include all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Forgetting about our past statements that contradict our behavior is not a typical way of reducing dissonance. It is not a deliberate cognitive process, but rather a failure of memory. The other options listed (B, C, and D) are all typical ways of reducing dissonance.

Question 18

Talia loves animals but still eats meat.When she experiences dissonance about the contradiction, she tells herself that she also volunteers her time at an animal shelter.This manner of reducing dissonance involves

Accepted Answer

Talia is using self-affirmation to reduce the dissonance. She is reminding herself of an action that aligns with her beliefs, which helps her feel better about the contradiction of loving animals but still eating meat.

Question 19

Scott believes very strongly that saccharine is an unsafe sugar substitute that may even cause cancer.Even though Scott is diabetic, and thus should be using sugar substitutes, he often opts for sugar-laden foods and drinks to avoid saccharine."I'll just exercise more later; the sugar isn't a big deal.I'm really being healthier by avoiding saccharine," he thinks to himself.Scott's behavior and thoughts are examples of ________ in the face of cognitive dissonance.

Accepted Answer

Scott is rationalizing by choosing to consume sugar instead of saccharine, even though he knows it is not healthy. He is justifying his actions and beliefs to reduce cognitive dissonance.

Question 20

The authors of your text explain that people tend to overestimate how bad they will feel if a negative event were to happen to them.This tendency is called

Accepted Answer

The tendency of overestimating how bad an individual will feel if a negative event were to happen to them is referred to as the impact bias.

Quiz 6: The Need to Justify Our Actions: the Costs and Benefits of Dissonance Reduction