Question 1

Which of the following is NOT a typical way of reducing cognitive dissonance?

Accepted Answer

A)  Forgetting about our past statements that contradict our behavior 
B)  Changing our behavior to bring it into line with dissonant cognitions 
C)  Justifying our behavior by changing dissonant cognitions 
D)  Justifying our behavior by adding new cognitions

Question 2

All things being equal, it would generate the most dissonance to decide which of two __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  classes to take 
B)  computers to buy 
C)  apartments to rent 
D)  people to marry

Question 3

According to the tenets of dissonance theory, when we cannot find sufficient external justification for acts such as saying something we don't truly believe, we will most likely __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  deny what we said 
B)  seek internal justifications 
C)  seek out dissonance 
D)  increase the number of dishonest deeds we do

Question 4

Compare and contrast how cognitive dissonance theory and self-perception theory (Chapter 5) would explain the Festinger and Carlsmith (1959) $1/$20 experiment. Given that both theories can explain these results, in which situations is dissonance theory more likely to apply and in what conditions is self-perception theory probably operating?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast how cognitive dissonance theory...

Question 5

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 6

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. What was the independent variable of this experiment?

Accepted Answer

A)  Condition: choice or no choice 
B)  Condition: photograph 1 or photograph 2 
C)  How much they liked the photos 
D)  The five-day exchange period

Question 7

The local police want to convince drivers to obey the 55 miles per hour speed limit on the highways. The police chief is convinced that doubling speeding fines is the answer. You've just read the section of Chapter 6 that deals with insufficient punishment. What would you say to him?

Accepted Answer

A)  "That's not the way to change drivers' attitudes about obeying the speed limit." 
B)  "Good idea. That way, drivers will change their attitudes about speeding." 
C)  "That won't work if officers don't enforce the speed limits." 
D)  "Make sure the severe punishment is swift and certain."

Question 8

According to the authors of your text, threats of severe punishment ultimately teach people __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  that crime doesn't pay 
B)  to avoid getting caught 
C)  to obey the rules 
D)  to distrust authority

Question 9

Imagine you really enjoy lying out in the sun to get a deep, dark tan. If you heard arguments both for and against tanning, you would probably remember __________ arguments for tanning and __________ arguments against tanning.

Accepted Answer

A)  long; short 
B)  short; long 
C)  plausible; implausible 
D)  implausible; plausible

Question 10

Derek is an overeater and is morbidly obese. In a conversation with a friend, he pronounces, "I may overeat, but no one can tell a joke like I can." Derek is using __________ to reduce his dissonance.

Accepted Answer

A)  self-fulfillment 
B)  self-evaluation 
C)  self-affirmation 
D)  justification theory

Question 11

Over the weekend, you are going to meet your new romantic partner's parents for the first time. In particular, you want your partner's father to like you. How might you use the Ben Franklin effect to get him to like you more? Be sure you include an example.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Over the weekend, you are going to...

Question 12

In an experiment by Takaku (2006) on road rage, when drivers went through a driving simulation in which they accidentally cut off another driver, and then were cut off themselves, they were LESS likely to __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  let the offense go and relax 
B)  forgive the other driver 
C)  keep a safe driving distance 
D)  resort to road rage

Question 13

Misaki feels terrible after just failing an exam in Spanish class. Now, in chemistry class, her lab partner just left the answers to the homework open on her desk while she steps into the hall to take a phone call. How is Misaki likely to behave?

Accepted Answer

A)  She's likely to look at the answers and copy them down for herself. 
B)  She's likely to look away from the answers and do her own work. 
C)  She's likely to point out one of her partner's math mistakes. 
D)  She's likely to tell the instructor that the answers are available.

Question 14

When our behaviors are inconsistent with our values or beliefs, we are NOT likely to experience cognitive dissonance if __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  the beliefs are integral to our self-concepts 
B)  we engaged in the behavior voluntarily 
C)  no one observed the inconsistent behavior 
D)  we can point to external justifications for our behavior

Question 15

When making a decision, the more __________ the decision, the greater the need for dissonance reduction.

Accepted Answer

A)  permanent and revocable 
B)  permanent and irrevocable 
C)  temporary and revocable 
D)  temporary and irrevocable

Question 16

Talia loves animals but still eats meat. When she experiences dissonance about the contradiction, she tells herself that she also volunteers her time at an animal shelter. This manner of reducing dissonance involves __________.

Accepted Answer

A)  self-affirmation 
B)  priming 
C)  self-handicapping 
D)  growth mindset

Question 17

Emile just ditched a friend at a party to spend time with a pretty woman. Emile feels uncomfortable, but he tells himself it's because the woman is so hot, and not because he treated his friend badly. The way he's feeling is dissonance, but he tells himself it's sexual attraction. This describes which of the following?

Accepted Answer

A)  Self-affirmation 
B)  Self-esteem 
C)  Misattribution of arousal 
D)  Priming

Question 18

According to dissonance theorists, what is the problem with severe punishment to control behaviors?

Accepted Answer

A)  Severe punishment leads to frustration. 
B)  Severe punishment models inappropriate behavior that is then learned. 
C)  Severe punishment serves as an external justification for behavior change. 
D)  Severe punishment undermines extrinsic motivation.

Question 19

Who is most likely to convince him- or herself that he or she believes in the behavior he or she is performing?

Accepted Answer

A)  Jackie, who obeys the speed limit when her radar detector tells her there's a police car in the vicinity 
B)  Loren, who turns down the radio because his mother says it interferes with her concentration 
C)  Casey, who stops teasing his younger brother because his parents have threatened to take away his television if he continues 
D)  Miriam, who pulls her math grade up to a C because her parents threatened to take away her driving privileges if she continued to fail

Question 20

What did Leon Festinger's (1957) original formulation of dissonance theory posit? Be sure to address what cognitive dissonance is, how and when it arises, and what people do to reduce it.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What did Leon Festinger's (1957) original formulation...

Exam 6: Cognitive Dissonance and the Need to Protect Our Self-Esteem