Deck 16: A: Reading

Question 1

Aronson was strongly influenced by Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance. However, he revised Festinger's theory because he felt dissonance was better explained as the result of:

A) a threat to the self-concept.
B) a violation of social norms.
C) a conflict between opposing thoughts.
D) external justification.

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Aronson got college students to use condoms by having them do two things: videotaping a speech advocating the use of condoms and:

A) having them empathize with an AIDS victim.
B) informing them of the dangers of unsafe sex.
C) having them think about times they themselves did not use condoms.
D) having them watch the film with a student audience.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Festinger introduced his theory of cognitive dissonance in the mid 1950s. At the time, it challenged which dominant theory in psychology?

A) adaptation
B) classical conditioning
C) repression
D) reinforcement

Answer 3

D

Question 4

According to Aronson, the primary appeal of the theory of cognitive dissonance was that:

A) it established social psychology as a valid discipline.
B) it generated a broad range of testable hypotheses.
C) it could be studied fairly inexpensively.
D) research could be conducted without the use of deception.

Question 5

According to Aronson, one experiences the highest degree of dissonance when _______ and ________.

A) feelings of immorality are high; one's ability to externally justify is low
B) a personal commitment has been turned to into a behavior; one's ability to externally justify is high
C) self-involvement in a behavior we have committed is low; one's ability to externally justify is low
D) feeling stupid for having performed a behavior; one's ability to externally justify is high

Question 6

According to Aronson, people with constructive self-compassion have a ________ and ________ self-esteem.

A) high; well-grounded
B) high; fragile
C) low; well-grounded
D) low; fragile