Cognitive Dissonance Quiz

What is cognitive dissonance?

• A state of mental comfort when beliefs and reality align

• A mental discomfort when beliefs and reality contradict

• A psychological state of happiness

• A method to enhance memory

In the experiment by Festinger and Smith, why did participants paid $1 describe the tasks as more enjoyable?

• They genuinely found the tasks fun

• They misunderstood the instructions

• They were trying to impress the researchers

• They needed to resolve cognitive dissonance due to insufficient monetary justification

How did participants paid $20 resolve their cognitive dissonance in the experiment?

• By justifying the lie with the monetary compensation

• By ignoring the tasks altogether

• By changing their beliefs about the tasks

• By refusing to participate

What is a common justification smokers might use to resolve cognitive dissonance?

• Everyone else smokes too

• Smoking is beneficial for health

• They only smoke occasionally, so it's not damaging

• Smoking is not harmful at all

How might someone with racist beliefs deal with cognitive dissonance?

• By engaging in open discussions with others

• By changing their beliefs to be more inclusive

• By refusing to accept any new information that contradicts their beliefs

• By accepting new information that challenges their beliefs