Reaction to a Communication as a Function of Attitude-Communication Discrepancy

Abstract

235 undergraduate Arab students at the American University of Beirut were administered a questionnaire through which Ss' latitudes of acceptance and rejection towards Arab unity were assessed. Then, Ss' reactions to a moderately anti-Arab unity “communication” were obtained. The results showed that, as the discrepancy between Ss' own stands and the position advocated increased, “contrast effect” occurred. However, little evidence for an “assimilation effect” was found. Consideration of Ss' latitudes of acceptance and rejection, rather than the “most acceptable” position alone, was shown to account much more meaningfully for the results.