Which of the following studies best supports Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory?
A) a study showing that voters express more support for their candidate right before voting than they do right after voting
B) a study showing that people value academic achievement more strongly after reading education-related words than after reading sports-related words
C) a study showing that people express more confidence in a bet right after making it than they do right before making it
D) a study showing that introspection leads to less attitude-behavior consistency than does an absence of introspection

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Cognitive dissonance theory suggests that people experience discomfort when their beliefs or actions are inconsistent, leading them to change their attitudes or beliefs to reduce this discomfort. The study in option C illustrates this by showing that people increase their confidence in a decision (the bet) after making it, likely to reduce dissonance between their action and any lingering doubts.

Which of the Following Studies Best Supports Festinger's Cognitive Dissonance