In general, people do not like to suffer, work hard, or make sacrifices. If and when they do these things, they want to feel that their efforts were worthwhile. Thus, even when people's efforts do not actually seem to have paid off, people will nonetheless try to convince themselves that they suffered for a good reason. This tendency is known as ____.
A)effort justification
B)attitude polarization
C)a self-fulfilling prophecy
D)the false consensus effect

Question

In general, people do not like to suffer, work hard, or make sacrifices. If and when they do these things, they want to feel that their efforts were worthwhile. Thus, even when people's efforts do not actually seem to have paid off, people will nonetheless try to convince themselves that they suffered for a good reason. This tendency is known as ____. ​
A)effort justification
B)attitude polarization ​
C)a self-fulfilling prophecy ​
D)the false consensus effect ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Effort justification is a concept in social psychology that explains why people often rationalize their hard work and sacrifices by attributing greater value to outcomes, even if the outcomes are not as positive as expected. This helps individuals maintain a positive self-image and reduce cognitive dissonance.

In General, People Do Not Like to Suffer, Work Hard