Research by Festinger and colleagues demonstrated that when people were paid $1 for their participation in a dull task, they were more favourably to the dull task compared to people whowere paid $20. Which theory was put forth to explain why people alter their true attitudes to match their past or actual behaviour?
Correct answer: C. Cognitive dissonance theory
- A. Attribution theory
- B. Actor-observer effect
- C. Cognitive dissonance theory
- D. Theory of planned behaviour
- E. Social learning theory
Explanation
Being paid only $1 created insufficient external justification for describing the dull task positively, so participants reduced the resulting cognitive dissonance by changing their attitude. This is the central explanation of cognitive dissonance theory.
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