Final answer:
The difference in perceptions of the basketball game's excitement can be attributed to cognitive dissonance, where paying fans may justify their investment by viewing the game as exciting, while non-paying fans have no such bias.
Step-by-step explanation:
The varied reactions among fans to the basketball game score of 155-13 can likely be attributed to the psychological principle of cognitive dissonance. Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort arising from a conflict between one's behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs and their positive self-perception. In this scenario, fans who paid for the game might experience cognitive dissonance as they justify their expenditure by perceiving the game as more exciting than its objective reality.
This self-justification helps maintain a positive self-image. On the other hand, those who entered for free had no investment to rationalize, potentially allowing them to perceive the game more objectively and, if warranted, find it boring without encountering the discomfort associated with cognitive dissonance. This psychological concept sheds light on the diverse reactions based on the fans' investment and the need to align their perceptions with their positive self-image.