Students at the Carnegie Mellon University were asked to answer a survey that included a question about student control over the university curriculum.A week later,they agreed to write an essay opposing student control.When asked to recall how they had answered the question before writing the essay,most of the students recalled having held
A)the same attitude as their parents and relatives.
B)the same opinion as their friends.
C)the same attitude as after the experiment.
D)a neutral attitude prior to the experiment.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as "attitude change" or "consistency bias," where individuals misremember their past attitudes or beliefs to match their current ones. After writing an essay opposing student control, the students likely adjusted their memories to believe they always held that stance, demonstrating consistency bias.

Students at the Carnegie Mellon University Were Asked to Answer