Psychology MCAT Practice Exam

Justification of effort refers to a psychological phenomenon where individuals convince themselves that the effort they have put into a task or an activity was worthwhile, especially if the outcome is less favorable than expected. This cognitive dissonance can lead individuals to alter their attitudes to align with their experiences and the hard work they invested. By justifying the effort, a person may emphasize the positive aspects of the experience or the value of the outcome to reconcile the investment of time and energy with the results they achieved. For example, if someone has spent a great deal of time and effort preparing for a difficult exam but does not perform well, they might convince themselves that the knowledge gained along the way was beneficial, thereby reducing feelings of regret or disappointment. In contrast, the other options involve different mechanisms of social behavior or validation. Meeting social expectations pertains to conformity and adhering to societal norms, while getting external validation focuses on the acceptance and approval from others. Adjusting behavior for social acceptance deals more with changing actions to fit in with a group's expectations. None of these concepts directly address the internal cognitive process related to evaluating one's own effort and significance, which is central to justification of effort.