Cognitive Dissonance and Attitude Change

Easy Unit 9: Social Psychology Attitudes And Actions

In the field of social psychology, the relationship between attitudes and actions is a critical area of study. Attitudes are typically seen as stable evaluations that can guide behavior, while actions are the behaviors that individuals choose to engage in. Sometimes, individuals behave in ways that contradict their attitudes due to various internal and external pressures. A well-known phenomenon that explores this dynamic is cognitive dissonance, which occurs when a person's beliefs and actions are in conflict, leading to discomfort and a potential change in either attitudes or behaviors.

Given this context, which of the following scenarios best illustrates how cognitive dissonance can lead to a change in attitude?

A smoker who continues to smoke despite knowing it is harmful to health.

An individual who refuses to eat fast food after learning about its nutritional content.

A person who donates to charity but does not believe in the cause.

A student who studies diligently for a test despite feeling anxious about it.

A person who enjoys playing video games, but feels guilty about the time spent doing so.

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