OPINION DIVERGENCE AS A STRATEGY TO AVOID BEING MISCAST

Placed each S with a discussion partner who was made to appear either similar or dissimilar to him. Moreover, the partner (an experimental accomplice) was either obnoxious or pleasant to the E. It was predicted that Ss whose partners were obnoxious but otherwise similar to them would be prompted to change their opinions on an attitude questionnaire in order to show their distinctiveness from the accomplice. Obnoxiousness would have no such effects when the partner was obviously dissimilar. Results supported the hypothesis and are offered as evidence for the use of opinion dissent as a self-presentational strategy. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved). © 1969 American Psychological Association.