During a test,Abe impulsively copied several answers from a nearby student's paper.He felt very uncomfortable about having done this until he convinced himself that copying answers is not wrong if classmates are careless enough to expose their test sheets.Which theory best explains why Abe adopted this new attitude?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory proposes that when individuals experience inconsistency between their attitudes and behavior, they experience discomfort, or cognitive dissonance. To reduce this discomfort, they may change their attitudes or justify their behavior. In this case, Abe likely experienced cognitive dissonance between his belief that cheating is wrong and his decision to cheat. To reduce this discomfort, he may have adopted a new attitude that justifies his behavior by convincing himself that copying answers is not wrong if others are careless.

During a Test,Abe Impulsively Copied Several Answers from a Nearby