Reactions to Failure after Taking a Placebo

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Abstract
Two studies are reported in which subjects were given an intelligence test. One week later subjects received fictitious feedback either moderately or extremely discrepant from their self-estimation. Before receiving test results, subjects took a placebo pill labeled arousing or relaxing. Both studies found that under the arousal condition subjects showed fewer signs for dissonance reduction than under the relaxing condition. The studies also show that dissonance reduction increased, the more negative the discrepant information was. The studies demonstrate that "misattribution of dissonance"-effects can be produced in a paradigm different than forced compliance situations.

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