Unfortunately I have a D in the class, but I am an A student." When there is a difference between what I believe and what I do, 


A. cognitive dissonance will develop.

B. social cognition will be less decisive.

C. central route processing will be decreased.
D. attribution will be used.
could it be A or C.....

Again, seek your text or Google for the terms.

The correct answer is A. cognitive dissonance will develop. Cognitive dissonance refers to the psychological discomfort that occurs when there is a discrepancy between a person's beliefs or attitudes and their behaviors. In this case, the individual believes that they are an A student, but their D grade in the class contradicts that belief, leading to cognitive dissonance. Option C, central route processing being decreased, is not directly related to the discrepancy between beliefs and actions in this situation.

To determine the correct answer to the question, we need to understand the concepts and principles involved. In this case, the situation described is one where there is a difference between what the individual believes and what they actually do. Let's analyze the options:

A. Cognitive dissonance will develop: Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort that arises when there is a discrepancy between one's beliefs or attitudes and their actions. It occurs when there is a psychological tension caused by inconsistencies. This option seems plausible considering the information provided.

B. Social cognition will be less decisive: Social cognition refers to how individuals perceive, interpret, and understand social information. However, there is no direct relation between the situation described and social cognition being less decisive. Therefore, this option can be ruled out.

C. Central route processing will be decreased: Central route processing refers to the type of information processing that occurs when we invest a significant amount of effort and cognitive resources to carefully evaluate an argument or message. While there may be some level of decreased central route processing since the individual is not acting in accordance with their beliefs, it might not be the most accurate term to describe the situation here.

D. Attribution will be used: Attribution refers to the process of assigning causes or explanations to behavior, either to our own actions or the actions of others. However, the question does not provide sufficient information to determine if attribution is the most applicable term in this context.

Based on the given options, it seems that A. Cognitive dissonance will develop is the most appropriate answer. Cognitive dissonance captures the discomfort experienced when there is a discrepancy between an individual's beliefs and their actions, which aligns with the situation described in the question.