Reversal of Attitude: The Influence of Counter-Attitudinal Information

Abstract

Problem statement:Research has shown that both positive and negative information can alter a neutral attitude towards an unknown person, with negative information having, in general, a larger impact. Though this positive-negative asymmetry has received considerable attention, it has, to our knowledge, not been tested in more current and powerful social media, such as youtube. Although attitudes are not fixed, literature on the reversal of a recently established attitude by providing counterattitudinal information is sparse. Therefore, the main aims of the present study were to examine positve-negative asymmetry in attitude formation using youtube fragments and to test the permanence of the establihed attitude by providing counter-attitudinal information. Approach: A total of 89 persons received either a positively (P) or a negatively (N) valued youtube fragment concerning a neutral target person. Subsequently, half of each group received positive written information (groups PP and NP) regarding the target person; the other half received negative written information (groups PN and NN). Results: The results indicate that it is indeed possible to change a neutral attitude using youtube fragments, with a larger attitude change after negative than positive material. Textual information reversed this attitude, with an equal effect for positive and negative information. Conclusion/Recommendations: It is possible to quickly change an attitude towards a neutral person using youtube fragments, this formed attitude can easily be reversed by providing textual counterattitudinal information. These findings can contribute to gaining a better understanding of the effect of modern social media on attitude formation and its transiency.

Disconfirmation of confirmation bias: the influence of counter-attitudinal information

“…Providing negative information resulted in a stronger change in attitude than providing positive information (Muris et al 2009;Remmerswaal et al 2014). This imbalance in change in attitudes is not limited to fear attitudes (Dibbets et al 2012). In general, bad impressions and stereotypes are faster to form and more resilient to disconfirmation than good ones (Baumeister et al 2001).…”

Stuck on Intergroup Attitudes: The Need to Shift Gears to Change Intergroup Behaviors

“…Examples of practical strategies to change attitudes using cognitive processing and evaluative conditioning include presenting individuals with new information or experiences that are different from what the individual knew or had before; educating individuals about their attitudes, where the attitudes come from, and why their attitudes might be wrong; having individuals think about a particular out-group from a different perspective; and exposing individuals to persuasive messages that result in targeted reasoning or emotions (Dibbets et al, 2012;Petty & Cacioppo, 1986;Vescio et al, 2003;Wood, 2000). The strategies that have been developed to reduce prejudiced attitudes typically align with one of the following attitude-change methods-people are made aware of their biases toward out-groups; they are presented with counterstereotypical information about out-groups; they are encouraged to recategorize outgroups to a superordinate group that they are also a member of; they interact with out-group members; and so on.…”