Social psychology - The Need to Justify Our Actions Ch 6

cognitive dissonance

A drive or feeling of discomfort originally defined as being caused by holding two or more inconsistent cognitions and subsequently defined as being caused by performing an action that is discrepant from one's customary, typically positive self-conception

impact bias

The tendency to overestimate the intensity and duration of our emotional reactions to future or negative events.

post decision dissonance

Dissonance aroused after making a decision, typically reduced by enhancing the attractiveness of the chosen alternative and devaluing the rejected alternatives.

lowballing

An unscrupulous strategy whereby a sales person induces a customer to agree to purchase a product at a very low cost, subsequently claims it was an error, and then raises the price; frequently, the customer will agree to make the purchase at the inflated

justification of effort

The tendency for individuals to increase their liking for something they worked hard to attain.

external justification

A reason or an explanation for dissonant personal behavior that resides outside the individual (e.g., in order to receive a large reward or avoid a severe punishment).

internal justification

The reduction of dissonance by changing something about oneself (e.g., one's attitude or behavior).

counterattitudinal advocacy

Stating an opinion or attitude that runs counter to one's private belief or attitude.

hypocrisy induction

The arousal of dissonance by having individuals make statements that run counter to their behaviors and then reminding them of the inconsistency between what they advocated and their behavior. The purpose is to lead individuals to more responsible behavio

insufficient punishment

The dissonance aroused when individuals lack sufficient external justification for having resisted a desired activity or object, usually resulting in individuals' devaluing the forbidden activity or object.

self-persuasion

A long-lasting form of attitude change that results from attempts at self-justification.

People are motivated to be consistent in their attitudes and behaviors

Three basic ideas of cognitive dissonance theory: 1) ________________ 2) Behaving in a way that is inconsistent with one's attitudes leads to an unpleasant state of tension: cognitive dissonance, 3) We are motivated to reduce dissonance by changing attitu

Behaving in a way that is inconsistent with one's attitudes leads to an unpleasant state of tension: cognitive dissonance

Three basic ideas of cognitive dissonance theory: 1) People are motivated to be consistent in their attitudes and behaviors 2) ________________, 3) We are motivated to reduce dissonance by changing attitude or behavior.

We are motivated to reduce dissonance by changing attitude or behavior

Three basic ideas of cognitive dissonance theory: 1) People are motivated to be consistent in their attitudes and behaviors 2) Behaving in a way that is inconsistent with one's attitudes leads to an unpleasant state of tension: cognitive dissonance, 3) __

convince self that behavior is consistent with attitude

Five ways to reduce dissonance? 1) ________________, 2) minimize importance of inconsistency, 3) change behavior to bring it inline with attitude, 4) add in consonant cognitions or subtract dissonant cognitions, 5) Change attitude to bring it in line with

minimize importance of inconsistency

Five ways to reduce dissonance? 1) convince self that behavior is consistent with attitude, 2) ________________, 3) change behavior to bring it inline with attitude, 4) add in consonant cognitions or subtract dissonant cognitions, 5) Change attitude to br

change behavior to bring it inline with attitude

Five ways to reduce dissonance? 1) convince self that behavior is consistent with attitude, 2) minimize importance of inconsistency, 3) ________________, 4) add in consonant cognitions or subtract dissonant cognitions, 5) Change attitude to bring it in li

add in consonant cognitions or subtract dissonant cognitions

Five ways to reduce dissonance? 1) convince self that behavior is consistent with attitude, 2) minimize importance of inconsistency, 3) change behavior to bring it in line with attitude, 4) ________________, 5) Change attitude to bring it in line with beh

Change attitude to bring it in line with behavior

Five ways to reduce dissonance? 1) convince self that behavior is consistent with attitude, 2) minimize importance of inconsistency, 3) change behavior to bring it in line with attitude, 4) add in consonant cognitions or subtract dissonant cognitions, 5)

Free choice - behavior must not be forced

Conditions under which dissonance will occur: 1) ________________, 2) minimal justification - no large external incentives for the behavior, 3) minimal threats to not do something, 4) forseeable consequences

minimal justification - no large external incentives for the behavior

Conditions under which dissonance will occur: 1) Free choice - behavior must not be forced, 2) ________________, 3) minimal threats to not do something, 4) forseeable consequences

forseeable consequences

Conditions under which dissonance will occur: 1) Free choice - behavior must not be forced, 2) minimal justification - no large external incentives for the behavior, 3) minimal threats to not do something, 4) ________________

71, 33

In Freedman's forbidden toy experiment half the students were threatened with a severe threat and other half mild threat for playing with a forbidden toy. Two weeks later, _____ % of children who received a severe threat were playing with the toy. ___ % o

insufficient justification

What are the three major sources of dissonance: 1) _________ 2) post-decision dissonance 3) effort justification?

post-decision dissonance

What are the three major sources of dissonance: 1) insufficient justification 2) _________ 3) effort justification?

effort justification

What are the three major sources of dissonance: 1) insufficient justification 2) post-decision dissonance 3) _________?

low ball

Marketing technique that relies on post-decision dissonance

insufficient justification

Doing something counter-attitudinal or attitude-discrepant with little pressure

commitment still exists although it is an illusion

Three reasons why low balling works: 1) _________, 2) feeling of excitement building and emotion, 3) what the heck, I'm already here.

feeling of excitement building and emotion

Three reasons why low balling works: 1) commitment still exists although it is an illusion, 2) _________, 3) what the heck, I'm already here.

what the heck, I'm already here

Three reasons why low balling works: 1) commitment still exists although it is an illusion, 2) feeling of excitement building and emotion, 3) _________.

effort justification

Source of dissonance resulting from Going through an unpleasant procedure to attain something of value

low balling

Marketing technique based on inducing a person to agree upon on a good deal; then, after they've committed to the deal, an "error" is found, and the dealer raises the price.

self affirmation

Theory that is an addition to dissonance theory, which says that dissonance is brought about by threats to your self-concept, self-worth, and that people cope with these threats by reaffirming other aspects of themselves, even if unrelated to the threat.

Self-affirmation

Term for any experience that has the effect of restoring the integrity of the self.

focusing on an important personal value

Two examples of experiences that result in self affirmation: 1) __________ 2) receiving positive feedback in a valued domain.

receiving positive feedback in a valued domain

Two examples of experiences that result in self affirmation: 1) focusing on an important personal value 2) __________ .

self affirmation

If people experience ______ following an attitude-discrepant behavior, they often do NOT exhibit the typical attitude change that follows from cognitive dissonance.

cognitive dissonance

Attitude discrepant behavior, often leads to _______

self-verification

Which theory says that people have a need to seek confirmation of their self-concept, even if it is negative.

self-verification

Which theory says that we have a desire to have others see us as we truly see ourselves.

praise

Choose the correct option: Self verification theory says that if you believe you are a poor student, having a teacher constantly [praise/criticize] you might lead to discomfort and embarrassment.

actual self, ideal self, ought self

What are the three "selves" of self-discrepancy theory?

sad, disappointed

When we think that our ideal self is discrepant from our actual self, we feel ____ and _____

agitated, anxious, fear

When we think that our out self is discrepant from our actual self, we feel _____, ______ and ______

attitude, morals

How we resolve moral dilemmas will often change our ______ toward the dilemma, change our ______