Dissonance theory helps us understand the apparently irrational behavior of cult members, such as those in the Heaven's Gate cult and at Jonestown, who committed mass suicide
All of the following EXCEPT ________ tend to increase dissonance and hence the extreme dissonance-reducing commitment to the cult or cause and the beliefs of the leaders.
a. the sacrifice of money and possessions
b. giving up other friends and relationships outside the cult
c. the negative self-concepts of many people who join cults
d. the amount of hard work that is done on behalf of the cult
Answer: C
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A person who is concerned about his or her health, but who continues to drink large amounts of alcohol, is making an error in judgment called ignoring the base rate
a. True b. False Indicate whether the statement is true or false
Schacter and Singer conducted an experiment in which students were injected with epinephrine. Half the students were told the injection might produce some general arousal; the remaining students were not informed about any potential reactions. Students then waited in a room with another student. Schacter and Singer found that:
a. all the students who waited with a euphoric student became playful b. all the students who waited with an angry student became irritated c. all the students who were informed about the potential side effects became irritated, no matter who they waited with d. the students who were not informed about potential side effects tended to adopt the mood of the other student who waited with them