When a neighbor asks if he can borrow your chemistry textbook and you do him this favor, dissonance theory would predict that you will like him more due to the Ben Franklin effect, which works because you __________.
A) only do favors for people you initially like
B) share an interest in and love for chemistry
C) have to internally justify doing this favor
D) find external justification for doing a favor

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dissonance theory predicts that when we do something for someone else, we experience dissonance because we may not initially like the person we are helping. To reduce this dissonance, we internally justify our behavior and come to like the person more. This is known as the Ben Franklin effect. By borrowing the chemistry textbook, the person has to internally justify doing a favor for the neighbor, which leads to an increase in liking for the neighbor.

When a Neighbor Asks If He Can Borrow Your Chemistry