Measures of Performance: A Study on Cognitive Dissonance

The chapter discusses the Measures of Performance experiment conducted by psychologists Festinger and Carl Smith, exploring cognitive dissonance. It explains how participants who were paid $1 to lie about a boring task actually rated the experiment as more enjoyable, while those who were paid $20 had an easier time reconciling their deception. The chapter delves into the concept of cognitive dissonance, its impact on psychology, and its relevance in areas such as compensation, mental health, and health behavior change.