Tiffiny L. Sia

Is a rose always a rose ? The role of social category exemplar change in attitude stability and attitude-behavior consistency

Three experiments tested whether changes in social category exemplars affect attitude stability, attitude-behavior consistency, or attitude change. In Experiment l, participants displayed greater attitude stability across 1 month, in several social categories, when they named the same rather than different exemplars. In Experiment 2, participants displayed greater attitude-behavior consistency toward each of 2 social categories when they named the same rather than different exemplars at behavior assessment and at attitude assessment. Participants who named a more likable exemplar behaved more positively, and those who named a less likable exemplar behaved more negatively, than their initial attitudes predicted. In Experiment 3, participants changed their attitudes in the predicted direction after estimating the height of an exemplar who was either more or less likable than the one they had earlier named. The results are interpreted as consistent with recent theory and research on attitude introspection, the matching hypothesis, and models of social judgment.

Houses built on sand: Effects of exemplar stability on susceptibility to attitude change

Attitude representation theory (C. G. Lord & M. R. Lepper, 1999) explains both attitude-behavior consistency and attitude change with the same principles. When individuals respond evaluatively to an attitude object, they activate and combine assumptions about the attitude object with perceptions of the immediate situation. The assumptions activated can vary across time, even without additional information. Previous research has shown that individuals activate exemplars when answering attitude questions, attitude reports vary with the valence of the assumptions activated, and activating differently liked exemplars reduces attitude-behavior consistency. The present research completed study of the theoretical implications of exemplar stability by showing that individuals with temporally unstable exemplars, whether spontaneous (Experiment 1) or manipulated (Experiments 2 and 3), are more susceptible to subsequent attitude change than are individuals with stable exemplars.

Improving Early Engagement and Treatment Readiness of Probationers Gender Differences

The current study examined the effectiveness of motivational activities designed to improve early treatment engagement for probationers receiving substance abuse treatment and differential effects on males and females. A total of 294 probationers either received treatment as usual (standard treatment) or standard treatment enhanced with three 2-hour motivational modules. The results indicated that probationers who received the motivational modules perceived their communities as being more engaged and likely to remain clean and sober compared to probationers who received standard treatment, and this was especially true for female probationers (who, in general, demonstrated higher levels of engagement and readiness for treatment than did males). The results also indicated that the motivational activities helped sustain treatment readiness during the first 3 months of treatment.

Downward Spiral: A Pedagogical Game Depicting the Dangers of Substance Abuse:

We have developed a pedagogical game called Downward Spiral that illuminates the dangers associated with continued drug use (including alcohol). The game provides facts, quotes, and episodic consequences that can adversely affect each players mental and physical health, social support, and financial/legal situation over the course of the game. The conceptual and empirical foundations of the game (both a college prevention version and substance abuse treatment version) are discussed. Pilot studies with college students and residents at a substance abuse treatment facility for probationers indicate that Downward Spiral is engaging, informative, and thought provoking. Plans for examining the impact of this game as a preventive technique (for the college setting) and as an approach to increasing motivation for substance abuse treatment are described.

Effects of perceived consensus on selective reinforcement of other people's stated opinions

Three studies tested whether perceived consensus affects selective reinforcement of other peoples stated opinions on important social issues. Participants who perceived relatively high consensus for their opinions were more likely than participants who perceived low consensus to reward another persons agreeing statements more than the persons disagreeing statements about gun control (Study 1) and to prolong interrogating another student about abortion (Study 2). In Study 3, participants who were told they were in a two-thirds majority regarding gay scout troop leaders were more likely than participants who were told they were in a one-third minority to practice selective reinforcement. The results have implications for settings in which interrogators believe they can exercise power over the person who is being questioned.