Author Question: Carl and Roger both had similar attitudes about cheating on a partner. However, both were faced with ... (Read 116 times)

ahriuashd · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

Carl and Roger both had similar attitudes about cheating on a partner. However, both were faced with similar situations where they could have cheated on their partners.

Now, Carl thinks that cheating is the worst offense one can make in a relationship, whereas Roger thinks that most people would cheat if they were faced with the situation. Explain what could have occurred, both socially and psychologically, that could produce such diverse positions from individuals who shared a similar stance.
What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Jessica thinks of herself as a health-conscious person. As she is eating a steak one evening, she sees a news report that consuming red meat increases the risk of breast cancer by over 50 percent

At this moment, she is experiencing a large amount of cognitive dissonance. State the three ways people can reduce dissonance, and apply these techniques to Jessica's dissonance; that is, give an example of each of the three dissonance reduction techniques Jessica could use.
What will be an ideal response?

hugthug12 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Cognitive dissonance could be responsible for the change in attitude in both Carl and Roger. Although they started out at similar points, Carl may have been tempted but chose not to cheat in that situation. The temptation to cheat and his decision not to could have created dissonance. To reduce dissonance, he could have changed his beliefs to bring them more into line with his behavior. Because he did not cheat, he thinks that cheating is morally wrong (even more so than he did before he was in the situation). On the other hand, Roger, faced with a similar situation, decided to cheat, and this behavior also caused dissonance. Thus, to reduce dissonance, Roger also changed his beliefs, but in the opposite direction. He now believes that cheating is not very bad and that others would have chosen to take the same course of action he took in the situation.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: The three ways of reducing dissonance are: changing the behavior to be consistent with the cognition; changing at least one cognition to justify the behavior; and justifying the behavior by adding more cognitions. Jessica could change her behavior by ceasing her consumption of all red meat. Alternatively, she could view her behavior as healthy because beef contains protein and iron. Finally, she could add the cognition that her family has no history of any type of cancer, and a long history of longevity.