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Related Experiment Videos

Selective exposure and dissonance after decisions.

Dave D'Alessio1, Mike Allen

  • 1University of Connecticut-Stamford, 06901, USA.

Psychological Reports
|November 6, 2002
PubMed
Summary
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Cognitive dissonance theory is supported by evidence showing people selectively expose themselves to consonant messages. This meta-analysis confirms dissonance drives selective message exposure across 16 studies.

Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Social Psychology

Background:

  • Historical literature reviews from the 1960s debated the role of cognitive dissonance in selective message exposure.
  • The question persisted whether participants actively seek consonant information and avoid dissonant information due to dissonance.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To resolve the long-standing question regarding the association between cognitive dissonance and selective exposure.
  • To quantitatively synthesize findings from experimental studies testing this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis was conducted on 16 studies published between 1956 and 1996.
  • The review included a total of 1,922 participants.
  • Statistical analysis confirmed the association between dissonance and selective exposure.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • The meta-analysis revealed a consistent association between cognitive dissonance and selective exposure (r = .22, p < .001).
  • Statistical power for the reviewed studies exceeded .99, indicating robust findings.
  • Experimental tests strongly supported the hypothesis that dissonance influences information selection.

Conclusions:

  • The findings provide strong empirical support for cognitive dissonance theory's prediction of selective exposure.
  • Advances in statistical methods and study design were crucial in definitively resolving this research question.
  • Cognitive dissonance is confirmed as a significant factor in how individuals engage with information.