MECHANISMS OF ATTITUDE CHANGE PRODUCED BY FORCED COMPLIANCE
Abstract
When an individual is induced to play a role inconsistent with his private opinion, he often modifies that private opinion to make it consistent with his public role. This suggests that educators or propagandists with control over overt behavior can also gain control over thoughts or private opinions. In an earlier experiment, the principal investigator demonstrated that financial inducements to undertake the role could either facilitate or inhibit the attitude change. A series of experiments have investigated the conditions under which these financial inducements facilitate or inhibit attitude. Five of the seven experiments have been written up for publication; the entire series has been described in a paper presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The experiments indicate that a fear of social retaliation from the audience is not an important factor and that public commitment to the overt behavior is an important factor in producing attitude change.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 31, 1968
- Accession Number
- AD0676288
Entities
People
- Barry E. Collins
Organizations
- University of California, Los Angeles