Why Did Participants in an Experiment Conducted by Berscheid and Her

question 182

Multiple Choice

Why did participants in an experiment conducted by Berscheid and her colleagues (1968) derogate their victims unless they thought they would switch roles with the victim and receive shocks themselves? In this case, participants

• A) reasoned that the victim would have a chance to even the score.
• B) were motivated to justify their cruel behaviors.
• C) experienced maximal dissonance, and convinced themselves that the victim deserved it.
• D) chose to become a victim, too, in order to make the situation fairer.

---

Definitions:

Online Books

Digital versions of printed books that can be read on electronic devices such as computers, e-readers, or smartphones.

Print Publications

Works of literature, journalism, or scholarship that are printed and distributed in physical form.

Read More Slowly

The practice of deliberately reducing reading speed to enhance comprehension and retention of information.

Instructors

Educators responsible for teaching courses, guiding learning processes, and assessing student performance.