Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) Performed an Experiment in Which Subjects

Multiple Choice

Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) performed an experiment in which subjects were asked to lie to a "fellow student" for either $1 or $20. For subjects in the $1 condition, dissonance was created by the cognitions "I am an ethical person" and "I have told a lie." Based on the results of this study, which of the following statements best expresses how subjects probably reduced this dissonance?

A) "I did not really tell a lie-what I said is quite true."
B) "Though I told that person a lie and I know it, what she doesn't know won't hurt her."
C) "Lying is a terrible thing."
D) "I guess I'm not really a very ethical person at all."