This study examines how need for cognition, source credibility, and communication strength influence perceptions of a print‐media communication. Participants read a strong or weak communication about an evolutionary theory, presented as an article from the Washington Post (high credibility) or the National Enquirer (low credibility). Results revealed a significant Need for Cognition × Source × Communication Strength interaction. Low‐need‐for‐cognition participants who read the weak communication rated the article more positively when it was attributed to the high‐credibility source than to the low‐credibility source. Source credibility did not affect impressions of the article and theory among participants high in need for cognition or reading the strong communication. However, articles from the Washington Post were rated as more believable, factual, accurate, and true than those from the National Enquirer.

A total of 96 men and 48 women participated in a study on the effect of touch in the natural setting of public taverns in the United States. Participants in the same-gender (men-men) or mixed-gender dyads were either touched or not touched by waitress confederates. Regardless of dyad type, participants who were touched consumed more alcohol than participants who were not touched. Men in the mixed-gender dyads consumed more alcohol when the women was touched. Same-gender (men-men) dyads aggregately consumed more alcohol than mixed-gender dyads. The results are interpreted in terms of the environmental cues and the dynamics of the group.

A total of 149 college students, 48 men and 101 women, completed the Irrational Beliefs and the Need for Cognition scales to assess irrationality and the tendency to engage in effortful cognitive activity. Although substantial overlap between the constructs was found (r = -.29, p < .001), the relationship was not linear. Need for Cognition appears to be a process variable, while irrational belief appears to be a content variable. Results suggest that the Need for Cognition must achieve a minimum threshold before spontaneous critical self-examination can occur.