PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Over the course of six experiments (total N = 1024) I tested whether the Lateral Attitude Change Model (LAC; Glaser et al., 2015) provided a promising approach to explain indirect (=lateral) attitude change in general. Furthermore, I extended the LAC model and applied it to different domains of attitude change: attitude change toward consumer goods, policies and values. Finally, I discuss the LAC model in its current state and put forward suggestions to modify aspects of the model or overhaul the model entirely. The LAC model describes different aspects of indirect (=lateral) attitude change with the same set of assumptions regarding underlying processes. According to the LAC model, every attempt to change one’s attitude toward a given object results in associative attitude change in line with the influence attempt; this change in evaluation is subsequently transferred to related topics. Subsequently, associative attitude change toward the targeted (=focal) and related (=lateral) topics may be propositionally affirmed. If associative attitude change is confirmed, the result is generalization, that is, explicit attitude change toward the focal as well as toward lateral topics. According to LAC, there can also be attitude change toward lateral topics if focal attitude change is rejected as a result of additional information that invalidates the initial influence attempt. Associative change to lateral objects may be affirmed, while invalidating information would not be applied to the evaluation of lateral topics. This process is called displacement. The LAC-model further specifies several concepts (e.g., similarity, preference for consistency, and hierarchy) that are assumed to moderate LAC. In Part I of the present research, I was able to present evidence indicating that focal attitude change toward products generalized to related yet unmentioned products as a function of similarity to the focal product. Furthermore, one experiment also returned tentative evidence in favor of displacement effects as a result of discrediting a previously presented influence attempt. The same experiment also returned indications for stronger LAC effects when participants’ levels of preference for consistency (PfC) were high. Whereas explicit data were generally in support of most tested LAC assumptions, implicit data were less conclusive. In Part II, I tested LAC in another domain of attitude change: attitudes toward socially relevant policies and values. Furthermore, I attempted to expand on the original concept of LAC by introducing the process of lateral contrast, describing the notion of indirect effects of a contradictory valence compared to focal effect. In Part II of this thesis I was able to show that focal attitude change toward values such as equality or toward policies such as (gender-related) affirmative action generalized to several related policies. As expected, some results further suggested stronger LAC when the focal object had been a value (vs. a policy) and thus was on a higher (vs. lower) hierarchical level. In addition, I also found some evidence in favor of the theorized lateral contrast, but results were not conclusive. In particular, questions regarding the underlying associative versus propositional processes of lateral contrast could not be resolved satisfactorily. In the final experiment I modelled populist influence as a process of LAC. A rightwing populist source which was rejected by a majority of participants was more influential regarding topics that had not been mentioned in its initial attempt at persuasion. A conservative source elicited a similar effect, albeit with generally more success in changing participants’ attitudes. In general, I found strong evidence in favor of explicit generalization and moderation by similarity. Additionally, the data also returned some evidence in favor of LAC being moderated by PfC and hierarchy. However, evidence for underlying implicit effects, displacement as proposed by LAC, and lateral contrast was not as convincing.I discuss implications for the LAC model in its current state as well as potential revised versions of specific aspects of LAC and make suggestions for a complete overhaul of the model. I conclude that although results show the considerable importance of lateral attitude change in general, there is not enough evidence to accept the LAC model as currently conceptualized. However, some adjustments may allow it to fulfill the promise of being a comprehensive model to explain different expressions of the everyday phenomenon that is lateral attitude change.