Research on effort justification and cognitive dissonance theory could be most easily used to explain ____.
A)why people stay in long-term relationships when they are dissatisfied
B)why people live beyond their means and rack up credit card debt
C)why people engage in unprotected sex or drive after drinking alcohol
D)why people care so much about fitting in and gaining the approval of others

Question

Research on effort justification and cognitive dissonance theory could be most easily used to explain ____. ​
A)why people stay in long-term relationships when they are dissatisfied
B)why people live beyond their means and rack up credit card debt ​
C)why people engage in unprotected sex or drive after drinking alcohol ​
D)why people care so much about fitting in and gaining the approval of others ​

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Effort justification is a concept from cognitive dissonance theory which suggests that when individuals put a lot of effort into a task or relationship, they are likely to justify the effort by valuing the outcome more highly. This can explain why people stay in long-term relationships even when they are dissatisfied, as they rationalize the effort and sacrifices they've made to maintain the relationship.

Research on Effort Justification and Cognitive Dissonance Theory Could Be