Some evidence for conflict resolution in impression formation.

Product Promotion by Attractive Communicators

“…Dissonance theory postulates that incongruent perceptions generate an uncomfortable situation for a recipient that the individual strives to resolve (Pepitone andHayden 1955, Maheswaran andChaiken 1991). Attractive communicators are expected to send positive messages and to have positive characteristics.…”

Impressions of Nationalities—an Alternative to the ‘Stereotype’ Approach

“…Apart from this essential qualification, the second and related process which had much in common with judgments of personality was the handling of information incongruent with that functioning as dominant. This was dealt with largely along the lines indicated by the work of Pepitone and Hayden (1955): complete ignoring of a whole range of information (i.e. on a specific criterion); selection of those parts congruent with the judgments already arrived at ; re-interpretation of the information so as to fit it into the pattern.…”

The Measurement of Individual Differences in Perceived Personality Trait Relationships and Their Relation to Certain Determinants

“…Also, working from slightly different points of view, several investigators (Haire & Grunes, 1950j Pepitone & Hayden, 1955;Gollin, 1954,;Cohen, 1961) have delineated a number of similar modes of conflict-resolving response.…”

“…Much of the literature on impression formation is duminated by the Gestalt tradition (Asch, 1946;Kelley, 1950;Haire & Grunes, 1950;Gollin, 1954;Gollin & Rosenberg, 1956;Pepitone & Hayden, 1955;Luchins, 1957). It emphasizes a resolution of conflictinS stimuli or traits into a coherent impression, but it does not address itself to the problem of how the conflict resolution is effected or to the contribution of situational and/or social conditions.…”

“…As a further refinement in the investigation of factors affecting conflict resolution in impression formation, Pepitone and Hayden (1955) presented two degrees (strong and wreak) of conflict by manipulating the stimulus person's group memberships. Four types of resolutions were identified: "instrumentallzation"--membership in one of the conflicting groups was seen to be nominal; "elimination"--beliefs associated with the conflicting group were eliminated from the impression;…”