What was the outcome for participants in the Stone et al. study who were asked to think about not practicing safe sex?

The outcome for participants who were asked to think about not practicing safe sex was that a significant portion decided to buy condoms when given the option. This finding is aligned with the idea that when individuals are prompted to consider the consequences of risky behaviors—in this case, not practicing safe sex—they may respond by taking proactive measures to mitigate those risks. The awareness created by the thought exercise likely led participants to recognize the importance of safe practices, prompting them to act in a protective manner.

This outcome reflects the psychological process known as "cognitive dissonance," where people are motivated to align their behaviors with their personal values or beliefs, especially when they are made aware of potential negative outcomes. In this study, the juxtaposition of considering a negative action (not practicing safe sex) with the opportunity to make a safer choice (buying condoms) likely heightened their perceived importance of engaging in safe practices.