How would a dissonance theorist explain the paradoxical finding that we are apt to like our adversaries after doing them a favor and to dislike our friends after treating them badly?

What will be an ideal response?


Answer: Both findings demonstrate the power of dissonance to alter our attitudes and beliefs to make them less dissonant with our behaviors. It arouses dissonance to do something nice for someone we don't like, so we reduce the dissonance by convincing ourselves that we may like our adversaries more than we initially thought. It also arouses dissonance to do something mean or unkind to someone whom we like. We reduce this dissonance by bringing our attitudes toward our mistreated friends into line with our behavior; in essence, we work to convince ourselves that they are not as likable as we initially thought.

Psychology

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Psychology