Research by Festinger and colleagues demonstrated that when people wer...
Cognitive dissonance theory explains that people adjust their attitudes to justify past behaviour in order to reduce inconsistency and the discomfort that this can bring to some people. Attribution theory and social learning theory do not explain attitude change. The actor-observer effect is a type of attribution. The theory of planned behaviour focuses on behavioural intentions, and not the attitudes themselves.
Research by Festinger and colleagues demonstrated that when people wer...
The Correct Answer is: Cognitive Dissonance Theory
Cognitive dissonance theory, proposed by Leon Festinger, suggests that individuals have an innate drive to maintain consistency between their beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. When inconsistency, or cognitive dissonance, arises, individuals are motivated to reduce this discomfort through various means, including altering their attitudes or beliefs.
In the study conducted by Festinger and colleagues, participants were asked to perform a dull and boring task. After completing the task, participants were divided into two groups. The first group was paid $1 for their participation, while the second group was paid $20.
Dissonance
The participants who were paid $1 experienced cognitive dissonance because their attitude towards the task (which they found dull) did not align with their behavior (they voluntarily spent time performing the task). This inconsistency created discomfort, as their belief that the task was uninteresting contradicted their behavior of spending time on it.
Attitude Change
To reduce this dissonance, the participants in the $1 group altered their attitudes towards the task. They convinced themselves that the task was more enjoyable and interesting than they originally believed. This attitude change helped them to justify their behavior and reduce the discomfort of cognitive dissonance.
On the other hand, the participants in the $20 group did not experience cognitive dissonance. They were paid a substantial amount of money for their participation, which justified their behavior. Therefore, there was no need for them to alter their attitudes towards the task.
Conclusion
The findings of this study support Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory. When individuals experience inconsistency between their attitudes and behaviors, they are motivated to reduce this dissonance. One way to do so is by altering their attitudes to align with their behaviors. In the case of the study, participants who were paid a smaller amount experienced dissonance and subsequently changed their attitudes towards the task to reduce the discomfort of inconsistency.
Overall, the cognitive dissonance theory provides insight into how individuals rationalize and justify their behavior, even if it contradicts their initial attitudes or beliefs.