Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)meetings Are "Self-Help" Meetings Comprised of People Who

question 166

Multiple Choice

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings are "self-help" meetings comprised of people who are recovering from alcohol-related problems. These meetings employ a number of practices designed to keep people away from alcohol. Which of the practices listed below is most consistent with the research on cognitive dissonance theory and attitude change? That is, which of the following would a cognitive dissonance theorist be most likely to applaud?

• A)All group members remain anonymous.
• B)All group members state, publicly, that they have an alcohol problem.
• C)Group members are encouraged to seek out a "sponsor," who will support them during rough times.
• D)Group members are welcomed back into the group even if they temporarily "fall off the wagon" (lapse into drinking).

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Definitions:

Personality Psychology

A branch of psychology focused on studying patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique.

Learning

In behaviorism, a change in behavior as a result of experience.

Cognitive

Pertaining to basic mental processes of perception, memory, and thought.

Psychoanalytic

A psychological perspective that emphasizes the importance of unconscious processes and childhood experiences in influencing behavior and mental states.