"There's no way I'd give up drinking! I'd just be stressed out all the time," says Lilly, as she sips her third martini of the evening. Lilly's comments about her drinking habit are an example of using __________ to reduce cognitive dissonance.
A) minimized shift
B) justification
C) behavior change
D) cognitive change

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Lilly's comments about continuing to drink despite potential negative consequences is a form of justification, which is a common way of reducing cognitive dissonance - the discomfort that arises from holding conflicting beliefs or actions. Lilly may feel uneasy about her drinking, but by rationalizing it as necessary to avoid stress, she can feel more comfortable with her behavior. The other options (minimized shift, behavior change, cognitive change) do not accurately describe Lilly's statements.

"There's No Way I'd Give Up Drinking! I'd Just Be