Jan and Michelle would both like to ride a motorcycle.Jan's parents explicitly prohibit her from riding a motorcycle and tell her that she'll be grounded should she choose to disobey them.Michelle's parents express their concern for her safety and tell her that they would be very disappointed if she decided to take a ride.According to dissonance theory, two months after the warnings, who would be more likely to ride a motorcycle if given the opportunity?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to dissonance theory, when individuals experience a conflict between their attitudes and behavior, they experience cognitive dissonance. This uncomfortable feeling can be reduced by changing one's attitudes or behavior to be more consistent with the other. In this situation, Jan's parents explicitly prohibit her from riding a motorcycle, creating dissonance when she wants to ride. If given the opportunity, she may be more likely to ride to reduce this uncomfortable feeling. On the other hand, Michelle's parents merely express concern, which may not create as much dissonance and therefore may not affect her decision as strongly.

Jan and Michelle Would Both Like to Ride a Motorcycle