1959 experiment, psychologist Leon Festinger asked participants to preform a series of dull tasks, like turning pegs in a wooden knob, for an hour. They were then paid either $1 or $20 to tell a "waiting participant" (aka a researcher) that the task was very interesting. Those who were paid $1 to lie rated the tasks as more enjoyable than those who were paid $20. Those who were paid more felt that they had sufficient justification for having preformed the rate task for an hour, but those who were only paid $1 felt the need to justify the time spent (and reduce the level of dissonance between their beliefs and their behavior) by saying that the activity was fun. We commonly tell ourselves lies to make the world appear a more reasonable place.
For example, when my friends and I were talking about work and how much we get pain an hour, I didn't feel the need to contribute as much input or information because I was making the most an hour out of all my friends (not to sound snobby). Almost all of my friends make $10 an hour, but since I get paid $13 an hour (bare with me) I felt justified for all the work I had to do for that one hour. While my friends explain how laid back and chill it is to not have to do much for $10 an hour.
Examples / experiences? Thought?
http://www.simplypsychology.org/cognitive-dissonance.html
I think it relates to the experiment, though now that you have read the article, you may be reading into the situations too much. I'm sure you feel you did a lot of work for those 13 dollars, but surely the people who earn 10 did the same amount?
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