Question 1

Jacob was recently late to a meeting because of a traffic jam. Later, when his wife is late arriving home, Jacob is probably going to be __________, based on the idea of the hypocrisy induction.
A) angrier
B) harsher
C) more easily frustrated
D) forgiving

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jacob was recently late to a meeting...

Question 2

A Japanese psychologist by the name of Sakai observed participants partaking in dissonance-reducing behaviors. Sakai also had a fellow group member of the participants observe the dissonance-reducing behavior. The observer then indicated how enjoyable he or she thought a boring task was. Results indicated that the observers experienced __________.
A) no dissonance and no dissonance reduction
B) strong dissonance
C) no dissonance reduction
D) a similar level of dissonance reduction as the participant

Accepted Answer

The observer experienced a similar level of dissonance reduction as the participant because they were also aware of the discrepancy between their own behavior and their beliefs.

Question 3

A Japanese psychologist by the name of Sakai observed participants partaking in dissonance-reducing behaviors. Sakai also had a fellow group member of the participants observe the dissonance-reducing behavior. The observer then indicated how enjoyable he or she thought a boring task was. These results suggest that Japanese observers __________.
A) attended to what their fellow group members said, and ignored the task itself
B) have no internally based attitudes; those are a Western cultural phenomenon
C) experienced dissonance on behalf of fellow members of their group
D) wanted to show solidarity with the experimenter by saying the task was enjoyable

Accepted Answer

The results suggest that the Japanese observers experienced dissonance on behalf of fellow members of their group. This means that they were aware of the dissonance-reducing behavior and the boring nature of the task, which created a conflict in their own beliefs and attitudes. Their discomfort was therefore based on their internal attitudes and beliefs, indicating that internal attitudes are not exclusively a Western cultural phenomenon.

Question 4

According to your text, Vietnamese and Cambodian adolescents in the United States often clash with their immigrant parents over cultural values. According to this study, what is most likely to happen to the adolescents who experience the most cognitive dissonance?
A) They will be more well-adjusted and have more success.
B) They will be more likely to get into trouble, do less well in school, and fight more with their parents.
C) They will become more committed to their parents' cultural values.
D) They will be able to balance the needs of both cultures, honoring their immigrant culture and the current culture in the United States.

Accepted Answer

The study suggests that adolescents who experience cognitive dissonance are more likely to struggle in various areas such as academics, relationships with their parents, and behavioral issues. Therefore, option B is the best choice as it states that these adolescents will be more likely to get into trouble, do less well in school, and fight more with their parents. Options A and C are incorrect as the study does not suggest that these adolescents will become more well-adjusted or committed to their parents' cultural values. Option D is also incorrect as the study does not mention that these adolescents are able to balance the needs of both cultures.

Question 5

In a research study by Steele, he replicated Brehm's earlier study on postdecision dissonance reduction. In Steele's study, students were asked to rate albums, and were then given their fifth- or sixth-ranked album. After making their choice, they were asked to rate the albums again. The students __________ the one they rejected.
A) rated the album they selected as equal to
B) rated the album they selected as higher than
C) rated the album they selected as lower than
D) turned down the album they had selected in favor of

Accepted Answer

Steele's study demonstrated the concept of cognitive dissonance, where after making a choice, individuals tend to rate their selected option more favorably to reduce the dissonance between their action (choosing the album) and their beliefs or attitudes. This means they rated the album they selected as higher than the one they rejected.

Question 6

According to the authors of your text, what is one major danger of engaging in self-justification strategies?
A) We experience cognitive dissonance.
B) We will have lower self-esteem.
C) We can end up becoming prejudiced.
D) We can fail to learn from our mistakes.

Accepted Answer

Engaging in self-justification strategies can lead us to fail to learn from our mistakes because we are too focused on defending our actions or beliefs rather than critically examining them. This can hinder personal growth and development.

Question 7

Social psychologists had African American students do carefully constructed self-affirming writing assignments regarding their good qualities outside of school. This type of self-affirmation will not be effective in bolstering self-esteem unless __________.
A) it is overly inflated
B) it is overly positive and untrue
C) it is overly negative and untrue
D) it is realistic

Accepted Answer

The self-affirming writing assignments must be realistic in order for them to effectively bolster self-esteem. If the affirmations are overly inflated or untrue, they may actually have a negative effect on self-esteem.

Question 8

A number of researchers have found that people from __________ cultures are less likely to engage in obvious attempts to reduce cognitive dissonance.
A) industrialized
B) independent
C) primitive
D) interdependent

Accepted Answer

People from interdependent cultures prioritize relationships with others and harmony within the group over their individual thoughts and beliefs. As a result, they may be less likely to engage in overt attempts to reduce cognitive dissonance because it could potentially damage those important relationships.

Question 9

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

Accepted Answer

According to the authors of the text, one way to learn from mistakes is by recognizing the tendency to justify our actions. This means acknowledging that we often try to make excuses or rationalize our behavior instead of accepting responsibility for our mistakes. By recognizing this tendency, we can begin to take steps to change our behavior and learn from our mistakes. Choices A and D are incorrect because they suggest using unhealthy coping mechanisms such as denial and rationalization, which would not help with learning from mistakes. Choice B is also not the best option because it refers to changing behavior in response to dissonance, which is not directly related to learning from mistakes.

Question 10

In a study referred to in the text (Peterson, Haynes, & Olson, 2008), smokers were asked to create an anti-smoking video to be shown to high school students, invoking dissonance in the smokers. To alleviate the dissonance they would then experience, what were these smokers more likely to do?
A) Actually intend to quit smoking
B) Take care of their existing health problems, except for smoking
C) Lose weight
D) Begin exercising

Accepted Answer

The study found that creating an anti-smoking video increased dissonance in smokers and they were more likely to intend to quit smoking as a way to alleviate that dissonance. There is no evidence in the study to suggest that creating the video led to the other options listed.

Question 11

Triandis (1995) and others have argued that dissonance-reducing behaviors may be less prevalent on the surface in societies in which __________.
A) there is less industrialization
B) the climate is tropical
C) the needs of the group matter more than the individual
D) there is a monarch in a position of real power

Accepted Answer

Triandis and others have argued that collectivistic cultures prioritize group harmony over individual autonomy and as such, dissonance-reducing behaviors may be less prevalent on the surface. Therefore, option C, which emphasizes collectivism, is the best choice.

Question 12

Why would people be less likely to engage in dissonance-reducing behaviors in a collectivist culture?
A) Because they would be focused on group harmony rather than self-justification
B) Because they would not experience dissonance
C) Because they would focus only on self-justification
D) Because they would not be able to change their behavior or add cognitions

Accepted Answer

In collectivist cultures, the emphasis is on maintaining group harmony and social cohesion. This means that individuals may be less likely to engage in dissonance-reducing behaviors that involve justifying or defending their own views or behavior, as this could disrupt group harmony. Instead, they may be more motivated to find ways to reconcile their own beliefs or behaviors with those of the group, or to prioritize the group's needs or values over their own individual beliefs or attitudes.

Question 13

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

Accepted Answer

In Takaku's experiment, the concept of reciprocal altruism was tested, showing that drivers who had accidentally cut someone off and then experienced being cut off themselves were less likely to engage in road rage, likely due to a heightened understanding or empathy towards the mistake, leading to a more forgiving attitude.

Question 14

When Steele had science majors and business majors wear lab coats during their experiment rating albums, they found that the lab coats served __________ for the science majors, but not for the business majors.
A) a self-affirmation function
B) as a dissonance enhancer
C) to help resist temptation
D) as a confidence enhancer

Accepted Answer

Steele's research found that wearing lab coats served a self-affirmation function for science majors because they identified strongly with the stereotypical image of a scientist, which was reinforced by the lab coat. However, the lab coat did not have the same effect on business majors who did not strongly identify with a similar stereotype.

Question 15

According to your text, people can also reduce dissonance by focusing on and affirming their competence at some other dimension unrelated to the threat. This is known as __________.
A) cognitive dissonance theory
B) the hypocrisy theory
C) self-justification theory
D) self-affirmation theory

Accepted Answer

This is known as self-affirmation theory, where individuals focus on and affirm their competence in a different unrelated domain to reduce dissonance caused by a threat to their self-esteem. This helps maintain a positive self-image and reduces the discomfort of cognitive dissonance.

Question 16

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 quicker to __________.
A) become angry
B) lay on the horn
C) forgive the other driver
D) distract themselves

Accepted Answer

Takaku's (2006) experiment on road rage found that drivers who experienced being cut off after they had accidentally cut off another driver were quicker to forgive the other driver, demonstrating an understanding or empathy likely stemming from their own recent mistake.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

Derek is using self-affirmation to reduce his dissonance. He is focusing on a positive attribute of himself (ability to tell jokes) to defend his behavior (overeating). By doing so, he is maintaining a positive self-image despite his negative behavior.

Question 18

People in collectivist cultures are most likely to experience dissonance when __________.
A) their behavior is justified though not moral
B) their behavior shames or disappoints others
C) their behavior is moral but not justified
D) their behavior is immoral and not justified

Accepted Answer

People in collectivist cultures prioritize group harmony and social norms over individual desires and beliefs. Therefore, they are most likely to experience dissonance when their behavior goes against the expectations or values of their social group and causes shame or disappointment to others.

Question 19

Yuriko, a Japanese student, and Jill, an American student, have both participated in an experiment in which they were asked-and agreed-to write a counterattitudinal essay. According to findings on dissonance reduction across cultures by Sakai (1999), who is more likely to engage in dissonance reduction?
A) Yuriko
B) Jill
C) Both Yuriko and Jill are likely to engage in cognitive dissonance reduction.
D) Neither Yuriko nor Jill is likely to engage in cognitive dissonance reduction.

Accepted Answer

Yuriko and Jill are both likely to engage in cognitive dissonance reduction because the findings on dissonance reduction across cultures by Sakai (1999) suggest that people from different cultures are equally likely to experience cognitive dissonance and engage in dissonance reduction.

Question 20

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

Accepted Answer

The situation described is an example of the hypocrisy induction paradigm, in which a person is reminded of their own hypocrisy and prompted to change their behavior. In this case, Megan is reminding Andrew not to do something that she herself is doing, and Andrew calls her out on it.

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

Jacob was recently late to a meeting because of a traffic jam. Later, when his wife is late arriving home, Jacob is probably going to be __________, based on the idea of the hypocrisy induction.

According to your text, Vietnamese and Cambodian adolescents in the United States often clash with their immigrant parents over cultural values. According to this study, what is most likely to happen to the adolescents who experience the most cognitive dissonance?

According to the authors of your text, what is one major danger of engaging in self-justification strategies?

Social psychologists had African American students do carefully constructed self-affirming writing assignments regarding their good qualities outside of school. This type of self-affirmation will not be effective in bolstering self-esteem unless __________.

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

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

In a study referred to in the text (Peterson, Haynes, & Olson, 2008) , smokers were asked to create an anti-smoking video to be shown to high school students, invoking dissonance in the smokers. To alleviate the dissonance they would then experience, what were these smokers more likely to do?

Triandis (1995) and others have argued that dissonance-reducing behaviors may be less prevalent on the surface in societies in which __________.

Why would people be less likely to engage in dissonance-reducing behaviors in a collectivist culture?

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 __________.

When Steele had science majors and business majors wear lab coats during their experiment rating albums, they found that the lab coats served __________ for the science majors, but not for the business majors.

According to your text, people can also reduce dissonance by focusing on and affirming their competence at some other dimension unrelated to the threat. This is known as __________.

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 quicker to __________.

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.

People in collectivist cultures are most likely to experience dissonance when __________.

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 __________.