Professor Stewart wrote a very positive letter of recommendation for a student despite having doubts about her competence.Which theory best explains why he subsequently began to develop more favorable attitudes about the student's abilities?

Question

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Cognitive dissonance theory predicts that we experience discomfort when we hold two conflicting beliefs or attitudes. In this case, the professor may have experienced cognitive dissonance by giving a positive letter of recommendation despite having doubts about the student's competence. To reduce this discomfort, he may have started to develop more favorable attitudes about the student's abilities.

Professor Stewart Wrote a Very Positive Letter of Recommendation for a Student