Thompson M M, Zanna M P
Department of Psychology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
J Pers. 1995 Jun;63(2):259-88. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-6494.1995.tb00810.x.
Historically, attitude theory and research has assumed that attitudes are largely unconflicted and unidimensional summary statements of feelings and beliefs. More recent work has reexamined this assumption (Thompson, Zanna, & Griffin, in press). The present article details two studies that continue to investigate this notion, examining antecedent variables assumed important in the genesis of attitudinal ambivalence. The first study focuses upon personality-based factors such as individuals' Need for Cognition (NFC) and Personal Fear of Invalidity (PFI) (a heightened concern with error). The pattern of results was consistent with our predictions: High NFC was associated with less ambivalence and high PFI was associated with greater ambivalence. The second study investigated a domain-specific antecedent. It was predicted that higher involvement would reduce the level of ambivalence experienced. Further, involvement was expected to moderate the effect of the personality-based antecedents. Again, results confirmed our hypotheses. High NFC was associated with less ambivalence, especially under conditions of high involvement with the issues. Conversely, high PFI individuals who were highly involved with these issues experienced more ambivalence. These results are discussed in terms of their implications for attitude theory.
从历史角度来看，态度理论与研究一直假定态度在很大程度上是无冲突的，并且是情感和信念的单维总结性陈述。最近的研究重新审视了这一假设（汤普森、赞纳和格里芬，即将发表）。本文详细介绍了两项继续探究这一概念的研究，考察了在态度矛盾产生过程中被认为重要的先行变量。第一项研究聚焦于基于人格的因素，如个体的认知需求（NFC）和个人对无效性的恐惧（PFI）（对错误的高度关注）。研究结果模式与我们的预测一致：高认知需求与较少的矛盾态度相关，而高个人对无效性的恐惧与较多的矛盾态度相关。第二项研究考察了一个特定领域的先行因素。预计更高的参与度会降低所体验到的矛盾态度水平。此外，预计参与度会调节基于人格的先行因素的影响。结果再次证实了我们的假设。高认知需求与较少的矛盾态度相关，尤其是在对这些问题高度参与的情况下。相反，高度参与这些问题的高个人对无效性的恐惧个体体验到更多的矛盾态度。本文将根据这些结果对态度理论的影响进行讨论。
