Question 1

Recall that in experiments presented in your text (Leippe & Eisenstadt, 1994; 1998), white college students agreed to write essays in favor of doubling funds for minority student scholarships, even though that policy would reduce funds available for majority students. What happened? Participants

Accepted Answer

A)  who were initially prejudiced did not change their attitudes, but non-prejudiced participants did. 
B)  convinced themselves that they supported the policy of expanding aid to minority students. 
C)  changed their attitudes about the policy, but not about minority students. 
D)  who were prejudiced refused to write the essays.

Question 2

________ refers to the tendency of people to increase their liking for something they have worked hard to attain.

Accepted Answer

A)  Postdecision dissonance 
B)  Insufficient justification 
C)  Justification of effort 
D)  Minimal justification

Question 3

According to the authors of your text, what is one way people can begin to learn from their mistakes?

Accepted Answer

A)  by adding new cognitions to justify their actions 
B)  by changing their behavior in response to dissonance 
C)  by recognizing the tendency to justify our actions 
D)  by using denial and rationalization to cope with distress

Question 4

According to research presented in the text, students shot a roll of film and printed two photographs. Some were told that they could exchange the one they chose to keep within five days, but others were told that their choice was final. Which group of students liked their photograph best?

Accepted Answer

A)  Those who were given the exchange period, because in the U.S., students value choice. 
B)  Those who were not given an exchange period, because the decision was irrevocable. 
C)  They both liked their photos equally well. 
D)  Those who could exchange the photo, because they could copy the first, then get the second as well.

Question 5

________ refers to long-lasting attitude change that arises from attempts to reduce cognitive dissonance.

Accepted Answer

A)  Self-verification 
B)  Self-persuasion 
C)  Self-focused attention 
D)  Self-esteem maintenance

Question 6

A number of researchers have found that people from ________ cultures are less likely to engage in obvious attempts to reduce cognitive dissonance.

Accepted Answer

A)  industrialized 
B)  independent 
C)  primitive 
D)  interdependent

Question 7

Carla has just written out a check for $13,999 to pay for her new car. Although the salesperson had initially accepted her check, she is now told that there was a mistake and that the final total should really be $14, 250. Carla writes another check for $251 to cover the difference so that she can drive out with her new car. Carla has just fallen prey to a questionable sales practice called

Accepted Answer

A)  "lowballing." 
B)  "bait-and-switch." 
C)  the "dissonance game." 
D)  "keep 'em guessing."

Question 8

People tend to fall subject to the impact bias (and not understand that they will usually successfully reduce cognitive dissonance) because reducing cognitive dissonance is

Accepted Answer

A)  a painful process. 
B)  controlled and conscious. 
C)  largely unconscious. 
D)  quick and effortful.

Question 9

Ronald wants to start a new club on campus, and he really wants his members to be involved and love the club. How would you suggest he use effort justification to increase members' sense of enjoyment of the club and their loyalty to the club?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Ronald wants to start a new club...

Question 10

According to information presented in this chapter, researchers exposed people who were strongly in favor of segregation and strongly opposed to segregation to both plausible and silly arguments in favor of both sides of the issue. If those people were responding in a purely rational or logical way, they would be most likely to remember

Accepted Answer

A)  plausible arguments on both sides of the issue. 
B)  improbable or unconvincing arguments on both sides of the issue. 
C)  silly or unconvincing arguments on their side of the issue. 
D)  silly or unconvincing arguments on the other side of the issue.

Question 11

Consider the findings from a study by Peterson, Haynes, and Olson (2008) in which smokers were asked to create an antismoking video to be shown to high school students, thereby invoking dissonance in the smokers. Based on the findings about which participants were most likely to intend to quit smoking, who do you think would be most likely to reduce dissonance by changing his or her behavior?

Accepted Answer

A)  Cassie, who created a video in support of eating healthy. 
B)  Renae, who read a pamphlet about quitting smoking . 
C)  Tim, who created one of those anti-smoking videos . 
D)  Zach, who created a video encouraging students to vote in the next election .

Question 12

The authors of your text provide the example of the most recent war in Iraq to demonstrate the dangers of what can happen when political leaders

Accepted Answer

A)  refuse to listen to reason. 
B)  are caught up in a cycle of self-justification. 
C)  have too much power in their hands. 
D)  make accurate decisions based on accurate information.

Question 13

The authors of your text present a study in which monkeys were given a choice between different colors of M&Ms-later, their preference for different colors of M&Ms was reassessed. The researchers found that the monkeys

Accepted Answer

A)  couldn't remember what they picked. 
B)  selected colors only at random. 
C)  showed postdecision dissonance. 
D)  couldn't see the colors.

Question 14

Megan is always reminding her son Andrew not to talk with his mouth full. One morning, Andrew reminds her not to talk with her mouth full. This situation most resembles ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the Ben Franklin effect 
B)  cognitive dissonance 
C)  the hypocrisy-induction paradigm 
D)  justification of effort

Question 15

Of the following, how are individuals most likely to reduce cognitive dissonance?

Accepted Answer

A)  By pretending they did not perform a particular behavior. 
B)  By reducing their total number of cognitions. 
C)  By adding new cognitions that are consistent with their behavior. 
D)  By decreasing their arousal.

Question 16

According to information presented in this chapter, researchers exposed people who were strongly in favor of segregation and strongly opposed to segregation to both plausible and silly arguments in favor of both sides of the issue. They found that people tended to best recall

Accepted Answer

A)  all arguments equally well. 
B)  rational arguments of the opposing side best. 
C)  rational arguments of their side and silly arguments of the opposite side the best. 
D)  all arguments from the opposing side better than those of their own side.

Question 17

Assume that in experiments conducted by Aronson and his colleagues Sally was randomly assigned to write and deliver a pro-condom speech to be shown to high school students. She also listed all the times she found it awkward or impossible to use condoms in her sexual encounters. After completing these tasks, Sally reduced her dissonance by reporting a greater willingness to use condoms in her future sexual activities. Why? She

Accepted Answer

A)  was embarrassed by the tasks, and wanted to please the experimenters. 
B)  felt like a hypocrite, and changed her attitude to reduce the dissonance. 
C)  changed her attitude to convince the experimenters to destroy her videotape. 
D)  felt a like a hypocrite and maintained her attitude to maintain dissonance.

Question 18

Why does self-persuasion work better than being lectured by other people to behave in a certain way?

Accepted Answer

A)  Self-persuasion is based on implicit attitudes. 
B)  Self-persuasion takes place internally and involves convincing yourself of something. 
C)  Self-persuasion is automatic. 
D)  Self-persuasion is usually an effortful and conscious process that takes time.

Question 19

Recall that Aronson and his colleagues asked college students either to compose a persuasive message advocating the use of condoms or to compose and deliver their message in front of a video camera. In addition, half of the participants in each group were made mindful of the times that they didn't use condoms. After completing these tasks, participants were allowed to purchase condoms at a low price. What is the significance of their findings from this experiment? They demonstrated that

Accepted Answer

A)  before people will use condoms, they must experience dissonance. 
B)  dissonance created by feelings of hypocrisy can change both attitudes and behaviors. 
C)  although dissonance can bring about attitude change, behaviors are not affected. 
D)  in some conditions, fear and anxiety can actually encourage condom use.

Question 20

Hai has been taking expensive beta-carotene supplements for years because he believes they will reduce his risk of cancer. Hai has just learned that a well-controlled study published in the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine showed that beta-carotene supplements do not reduce cancer risk. Hai is probably experiencing

Accepted Answer

A)  cognitive dissonance. 
B)  self-affirmation. 
C)  the rationalization trap. 
D)  self-discrepancy.

Exam 6: The Need to Justify Our Actions

Recall that in experiments presented in your text (Leippe & Eisenstadt, 1994; 1998) , white college students agreed to write essays in favor of doubling funds for minority student scholarships, even though that policy would reduce funds available for majority students. What happened? Participants