Discussion Questions
Chapter 3: Cognition and Intrapersonal Communication
1. URT was written before the advent of social media as we know it today. People
joke that they “stalk” people on social media before dates, job interviews, or even
attending class. Where would you place the use of social media in terms of the
three strategies? Is it passive, active, or interactive? Could it be all three?
2. We could use consensus, consistency, and distinctiveness to make more informed
attributions; however, the theory doesn’t suggest that we always use all three. Do
you notice that you look to one of these aspects more than others? Do you have an
example where we place more emphasis, or weight, on one of these?
3. Think of a failed new year’s resolution (or some other type of resolution). In
hindsight, do you think you would have stuck to the resolution if you experienced
more dissonance? What strategy did you utilize to prevent the dissonance?
4. You and your classmates are planning an event on campus. You would like to
distribute fliers to people. You have a fairly large percentage of international
5. You receive two exam grades back in two different classes on the same day. In
one class, you receive an A. In the other class, you receive a D. You are excited
about the A, and you are disappointed with the D. You talk with your friends at
the end of the day about your performance. How do attribution theory’s concepts
of dispositional and situational factors help you explain these results?