Cognitive Dissonance and Behavior

The video explores cognitive dissonance, a psychological phenomenon where individuals experience discomfort due to conflicting beliefs and actions. Leon Festinger's experiment demonstrated this by having participants lie about a boring task for varying rewards. Those paid less experienced more dissonance and altered their beliefs to align with their actions. The video highlights how understanding cognitive dissonance can guide behavior and decision-making.

What is cognitive dissonance?

• A state of confusion about decision-making

• A state of tension between conflicting beliefs and actions

• A state of satisfaction with one's decisions

• A state of harmony between beliefs and actions

Which psychologist is associated with the theory of cognitive dissonance?

• Leon Festinger

• Carl Rogers

• B.F. Skinner

• Sigmund Freud

How might someone reduce cognitive dissonance?

• By changing their beliefs or actions

• By ignoring the dissonance

• By increasing the dissonance

• By avoiding decision-making

In Festinger and Carlsmith's experiment, what task were the students asked to perform?

• A very boring task

• A fun and engaging task

• A physically demanding task

• A creative task

What was the reward given to half of the students for lying about the experiment being fun?

• $1

• $20

• $10

• $5

Why did the $1 subjects convince themselves that the experiment was fun?

• Because they genuinely enjoyed it

• To reduce the dissonance between their beliefs and actions

• Because they were paid a lot of money

• Because they were told to do so

What did the $20 subjects feel about lying?

• They felt guilty

• They felt comfortable lying for the money

• They felt dissonance

• They felt confused

What does cognitive dissonance theory predict about the man who is paid $20?

• He will believe the task is fun

• He will know the task is dull but feel justified in lying

• He will refuse to lie

• He will feel dissonance

What general principle is suggested by cognitive dissonance theory?

• People love things they suffer for

• People are indifferent to things they suffer for

• People avoid things they suffer for

• People forget things they suffer for

How can psychology help us according to the video?

• By providing entertainment

• By offering guidelines to correct our behavior

• By making us more intelligent

• By predicting the future