Research on cognitive dissonance suggests that one way we could promote healthy behavior is to:
A) Pay people money to engage in healthy behaviors.
B) Provide information about the risk of contracting diseases if one does not engage in healthy behaviors.
C) Discuss the public's susceptibility to illness.
D) Make people aware of the inconsistency between their attitudes toward their health and their health behaviors.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory suggests that when people’s attitudes and behaviors are inconsistent, they feel discomfort or dissonance. Making people aware of inconsistencies between their attitudes toward their health and their health behaviors (such as smoking, not exercising, or not wearing a seatbelt) will increase their discomfort and motivate them to change their behavior. This technique is called “self-persuasion” and has been shown to be effective in promoting healthy behaviors. Paying people money or providing information about disease risks can also be effective, but they do not directly address the cognitive dissonance people feel between their attitudes and behaviors. Discussing the public’s susceptibility to illness is unlikely to be effective because it does not address the individual’s own dissonance.

Research on Cognitive Dissonance Suggests That One Way We Could