PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Hypotheses derived from the lateral attitude change (LAC) model were tested in a study on majority and minority influence. The authors predicted that reading majority arguments would lead to explicit and implicit focal attitude change as well as LAC (i.e., generalization), whereas reading minority arguments would lead to explicit LAC, but not to explicit focal attitude change (i.e., displacement). In a 3 (source: majority vs. minority vs. control) x 2 (order of attitude assessments: explicit-implicit vs. implicit-explicit) design, students (N = 180) read arguments against an unconditional basic income (focal topic) that came from either a majority or a minority, or no arguments (control condition). Later, their explicit and implicit attitudes toward the focal topic and four lateral topics (e.g., inclusive schooling) were assessed. Individual differences in the need for uniqueness were assessed as a potential moderator of majority and minority influence. The results showed focal explicit and implicit attitude change in both the majority and minority conditions, but no evidence for LAC. Need for uniqueness did not moderate the effects of majority or minority arguments. Potential reasons for the lack of evidence for LAC and implications for future research are discussed.