PSYC 170 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Hedonic Treadmill, Sonja Lyubomirsky, Twin Study
Document Summary
Chapter six: the need to justify our actions the costs and benefits of. Example: smoking cigarettes: smokers experience dissonance because they know it significantly increase the risks of lung cancer. Can convince yourself smoking doesn"t cause cancer (lowered perception of dangers of smoking) by thinking research is inconclusive, or drawing upon someone who has smoked a lot and not died. Can add consonant cognitions (smoking) worth the risk of cancer and emphysema because it"s so enjoyable and relaxes them. Self-affirmation a way of reducing dissonance by reminding oneself of one or more of one"s positive attributes (focuses on good qualities to lessen dissonant sting) Example: binge drinking connection to partying: the behavior (getting wasted) causes binge drinking. Don"t want to admit that they are wimpy and not drink resolve dissonance by convincing themselves drinking is a lot of fun. Example: gay men that love church: resolve dissonance by changing church or leaving their religion.
