Question

Mariah has had a hard semester, and her grades have suffered. She really needs a good grade in psychology to get off academic probation and stay in school. On the next psychology exam, Mariah is sorely tempted to cheat, but she decides not to. Which of the following pairs of cognitions best reflects the source of any dissonance Mariah might experience while deciding not to cheat?

a. "My school life could be over"; "I just gave up a chance to help myself."
b. "I'm basically a decent, honest person"; "These exam questions are ambiguous and tricky."
c. "I'm a basically an honest person"; "I've never seen any of my friends cheat."
d. "So much is riding on this exam"; "I just know that if I try it, I'll get caught."

Answer 1

Correct Answer:

b. "I'm basically a decent, honest person"; "These exam questions are ambiguous and tricky."

Step-by-step explanation:

In the case of Mariah and her challenges in the psychology course, it is expected that she would be able to do anything that would afford her the opportunity to pass the course and still maintain her studentship rather than go on probation. Her being tempted to cheat is one of the ways to help herself but decided not to.

The likely reason that best reflects the source of any dissonance Mariah experienced on why she should not cheat is "I'm basically a decent, honest person"; "These exam questions are ambiguous and tricky."