Which of the following studies best supports Festinger's (1957)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, proposed by Festinger in 1957, suggests that individuals experience discomfort (dissonance) when they hold two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values at the same time. This theory predicts that to reduce this discomfort, individuals will adjust their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors. The study showing that people express more confidence in a bet right after making it than they do right before making it (Choice C) best supports this theory because it illustrates how individuals adjust their confidence (an attitude) to align with their recent behavior (placing a bet) to reduce dissonance.

Which of the Following Studies Best Supports Festinger's (1957)cognitive Dissonance