Kap 6: Kognitiv dissonans og behovet for at beskytte vores selvværd

Question 1

1. Your parents offer to buy you a new mobile phone. You are struggling between getting the latest
   iPhone model or Samsung, given that both possess their own unique pro specifications as well as cons.
   Which of the following methods should you use to avoid post-decision dissonance?
   a. Tell your parents you would like to add another brand model into consideration.
   b. Ask your parents to buy you both the brand models.
   c. Ask your parents to remove one of the options, leaving you no other choice.
   d. None of the above.

Answer 1

c

Question 2

2. You are reading a blog by someone whose point of view is really making you angry. Which of her
   arguments are you most likely to focus on and remember?
   a. Her silliest claims, because she is a silly person
   b. Her silliest claims, because they are consonant with your opinion that she is a silly person
   c. Her smartest claims, so that you can contradict them in a post
   d. Her smartest claims, because they are so unlikely to have come from a silly person

Answer 2

b

Question 3

3. You were recently appointed as the student lead of the History study group at your university. The
   study group isn’t particularly interesting to students as it requires several “boring” readings to be done on
   a weekly basis. What strategy can you use for the invitation to join so as to increase the members’ interest
   and liking for the group?
   a. Entice them with monetary benefits for joining the study group.
   b. Make them write a 30-page-long summary on some key historical topics as an “entrance exam.”
   c. Get history professors to convince students to join.
   d. Accept as many students as possible at the beginning so that those who eventually stay on will be
   those who truly like the subject.

Answer 3

b

Question 4

4. When does “saying become believing”?
   a. When you claim to have an opinion that differs from your true beliefs for no strong reason.
   b. When what you say is what you believe.
   c. When someone forces you to say something you don’t believe.
   d. When you’re paid a lot of money to lie.

Answer 4

a

Question 5

5. What is the “hypocrisy paradigm” in experimental research?
   a. Choosing participants who are hypocrites in order to study their rationalizations.
   b. Requiring participants to write essays that are critical of hypocrisy.
   c. Making participants understand that everyone is a hypocrite.
   d. Making participants aware of their own hypocrisy in not practicing what they preach.

Answer 5

d

Question 6

6. In terms of dissonance theory, what is the primary reason that “we” (our side) often dehumanize “them,”
   the enemy, seeing them as animals, brutes, or monsters?
   a. The enemy is violent and cruel and deserves whatever we do to them.
   b. The enemy started the war.
   c. Our side has treated the enemy brutally and needs to justify these actions.
   d. Our side is more moral and humane than their side.

Answer 6

c

Question 7

7. A group of school students who did not eat healthy were called to be ambassadors for promoting
   healthy eating habits among the students of the school. They encouraged healthy eating through
   speeches and posters. Their teachers and close friends reminded them that they themselves usually had
   junk food. This is known as
   a. inconsistency advocacy.
   b. cognitive dissonance.
   c. self-persuasion.
   d. hypocrisy induction.

Answer 7

d

Question 8

8. Suppose that Jessica has always been a good student (did well on exams, attended all classes,
   participated in extracurricular activities), but chooses to cheat on one of the final assessments. She
   experiences strong dissonance because she sees herself as an intelligent and trustworthy student in class,
   and her dishonest action is incongruent with her self-perception. According to research on selfaffirmation
   theory, which of the following is Jessica most likely to do to reduce her dissonance?
   a. She would get some chocolates and cookies for the night and forget about it.
   b. She would focus on only the outcome of her dishonest act, which is getting a good grade.
   c. She would say to herself, “Hey, it is okay, at least I’m a caring person and I volunteer at the homeless
   shelter every evening.”
   d. She would convince other students also to cheat alongside her.

Answer 8

c

Question 9

9. Ellen and Nicole are best friends and love to paint. Both of them consider themselves to be talented
   painters and it is very important to them. They participate in a national painting competition, where
   Nicole goes on to win the first prize. Following this, Rachel starts distancing herself from Nicole, begins to
   disparage Nicole’s work, and attempts to withdraw other social resources from her (for example, not
   telling her about other upcoming competitions, poster fair, and new friends who share their interest in
   painting, etc.). Which one of the following theories best explains Rachel’s behavior?
   a. Terror management theory
   b. The justification of effort
   c. Self-evaluation maintenance theory
   d. The theory of cognitive dissonance

Answer 9

c

Question 10

10. Which of the following is true about self-esteem and narcissism?
    a. The best way to be happy is to focus on ourselves and our own needs.
    b. Narcissists are disliked by others but do better academically and in business than other people.
    c. People who are optimistic (but not narcissistic) persevere more in the face of failure and set higher
    goals than do other people.
    d. Narcissism has been decreasing among college students in the United States over the past 30 years.

Answer 10

c