James M. Carlsmith

James M. Carlsmith is a psychologist known for his research on cognitive dissonance, the mental discomfort experienced when beliefs and actions conflict. His famous study demonstrated that people who were paid little to lie about a boring task to others experienced more internal guilt and changed their attitudes to justify their behavior, compared to those paid more. This work helped reveal how people rationalize decisions and maintain self-consistency, highlighting the complex ways we justify our actions to ourselves. Carlsmith's research has significantly influenced social psychology and our understanding of human motivation and decision-making.