Reduction of cognitive dissonance as a function of magnitude of dissonance, differentiation, and self‐esteem

Abstract

Abstract The purpose of the present experiment was to test several hypotheses concerning the interrelationship of dissonance reduction mechanisms in a situation where response possibilities are relatively unconstrained. Engaged female students were invited to take part in a bogus ‚Marriage Expectancy Test' that was supposed to allow predictions of marriage success. One week later, they received fictitious results differing negatively from their initial expectations of marriage success. The reactions measured were ‚conformity with the result' and ‚derogation of source' (confrontation mechanisms), and ‚devaluation of importance of the issue' and ‚under‐recall' (avoidance mechanisms). As predicted, avoidance responses increased steeply with discrepancy, while little increase was found for confrontation mechanisms. Psychological differentiation had no significant effect on dissonance reduction, whereas high vs. low self‐esteem influenced ‚derogation of source' and ‚devaluation of importance of the issue'.