Song and Prakash are both taking a very difficult and quite boring class in symbolic logic. Song is taking the class because she thought it would be interesting; Prakash is taking the class because it is required for his major. Mia asks them both what the class is like. Based upon cognitive dissonance theory, you could predict that Song would say it is ____________ and Prakash would say it is ____________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to cognitive dissonance theory, individuals seek to reduce the discomfort of holding two contradictory beliefs or attitudes. In this case, Song's belief that the class would be interesting clashes with her experience of finding it difficult and boring, leading her to experience cognitive dissonance. To reduce this discomfort, she may change her attitude and say the class is terrible. Prakash, on the other hand, was initially uninterested in the class but now has a practical reason for taking it. This may lead him to justify his attendance by finding it somewhat interesting and worthwhile, despite the difficulties he may encounter. Thus, he may say the class is pretty interesting.

Song and Prakash Are Both Taking a Very Difficult and Quite