Agustin Echebarria Echabe

Group discussion and changes in attitudes and representations

Abstract The effectiveness of group discussions as a method of modifying previous attitudes was analyzed. Two experimental studies tested whether individuals who were members of discussion groups produced more arguments than individuals who were not members of such groups. The studies also examined whether attitude changes were stronger among participants exposed to group discussions and the mechanisms through which such attitude changes take place. In the first study, 310 Spanish psychology students were assigned to either 1 of 2 discussion groups or a control group. Results showed that the impact of group production on the individual cognitive sphere mediated the effects of group discussion on the individuals attitude change. A total of 107 Spanish psychology students participated in Study 2. The results showed that after 1 week individual members of discussion groups were able to produce more arguments in the same direction and that the group as a unit was more creative than its individual members.

Identidad de género, ética protestante y atribución de causalidad

ResumenEl articulo analiza una doble problematica en tomo a la identidad de genero: (a) los determinantes sociales de la identidad de genero y (b) los sesgos preceptivos-cognitivos en la evaluacion y explicacion de acciones desarrolladas por un actor segun su pertenencia sexual.Se concluye que la genesis de las diferencias en las identidades sociales de hombres y mujeres esta ligada a la distribucion social del trabajo en funcion del sexo. Igualmente se confirma la existencia de sesgos perceptivo-cognitivos en la evaluacion de acciones sociales.

Life-after-death beliefs and self motivations

ABSTRACT An experimental study was designed to ascertain whether three self-motives (death-thoughts avoidance, self-uncertainty reduction, and need-for-control) are irreducible motives or examples of a more basic primary motive with regard to their relationship to life-after-death (LAD) beliefs. The study explored the impact of the three self-motives on adherence to LAD beliefs through three mediators: self-esteem, feelings of disquiet, and thoughts-accessibility (thoughts of death, need-for-control, and uncertainty). Participants were randomly assigned to write about their own death, a time they felt uncertain, a time they felt powerless, or about a toothache episode. The mediators (accessibility of disturbing thoughts, feelings of disquiet-uncertainty, and self-esteem) were measured next. The dependent variable selected was endorsement of LAD beliefs. Results showed that the cognitive and emotional responses produced by the activation of the three motives were similar. The three motives increased the accessibility of uncertain-related thoughts that, in turn, increased the adherence to LAD.