Discuss Cognitive Dissonance Theory

question 9

Essay

Discuss cognitive dissonance theory. How do individuals seek consistency among their attitudes, and between their attitudes and their behaviour?

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Definitions:

Negative Reinforcer

A stimulus whose removal following a behavior increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future.

Unconditioned Stimulus

A stimulus that innately provokes a response without the necessity for previous learning.

Continuous Reinforcement

A learning schedule in which a reward is given after every correct response, rapidly establishing a behavior but also leading to quick extinction if rewards stop.

Target Response

A desired behavior or outcome that is identified for reinforcement in order to increase its occurrence, often used in behavior modification techniques.