In the aftermath of a dissonant behavior, people often change something about themselves as a means of reducing cognitive dissonance. This is known as __________.
A) the overjustification effect
B) external justification
C) internal justification
D) postdecision regret

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Internal justification refers to changing something about oneself, such as attitudes or beliefs, to reduce cognitive dissonance after engaging in a behavior that goes against those attitudes or beliefs. This is a common way for individuals to resolve their discomfort when their behavior clashes with their values or beliefs. The other options - overjustification effect, external justification, and postdecision regret - are all related to cognitive dissonance but refer to specific concepts within the theory.

In the Aftermath of a Dissonant Behavior, People Often Change