A defense attorney must defend a client whom she does not believe is innocent. According to dissonance theory, under what condition might she be more likely to come to believe in her client's innocence?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to dissonance theory, when people engage in an action that contradicts their beliefs (such as defending someone they believe is guilty), they experience cognitive dissonance. To reduce this discomfort, they may change their beliefs. If the attorney receives a lower fee, the dissonance between the effort and the reward cannot be justified by external incentives, making it more likely for her to adjust her beliefs about the client's innocence to reduce the dissonance.

A Defense Attorney Must Defend a Client Whom She Does