Test 3 Self-Perception Theory

Question 1

what is the purpose of the self-perception theory

Answer 1

• represents challenge to dissonance theory
• non-cognitive explanatory mechanism for attitudes
• motivation is to explain rather than justify behavior
• strongly influence by behaviorist perspective of Skinner

Question 2

explain the self-perception theory

Answer 2

• when people want to know how they feel, they look to their own behavior
• an individual comes to understand his/her feelings and attitudes by inferring them from observations of his/her own behavior

Question 3

what are some differences between self-perception and dissonance

Answer 3

• provided an explanation for the finding previously explained by dissonance theory
• different explanation about subjects who were paid $1.
  
  • Festinger said, subjects bothered by lying, and to reduce dissonance, changed attitude toward task
  • Ben argue that subject merely wanted to understand why they performed task for so little money, inferred must have liked the task (assume ppl behave first & think later)