Reaffirmation of social comparison views of choice shifts

Averaging and extremity effects in an autokinetic situation

Bibliographic Data

ID6205988
AuthorsRobert S Baron (University of Iowa, corresponding author), Gard Roper
Year1976
Volume33
Issue5
Pages521-530
Publication date1976-05-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Personality and Social Psychology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0022-3514 • E-ISSN: 1939-1315
PublisherAmerican Psychological Association (APA) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1037//0022-3514.33.5.521
OpenAlexW4231482518
LanguageEN
Citations received18
References cited8

Two studies involving autokinetic-like judgments investigated the choice shift. In the first study, when subjects felt that larger estimates of movement denoted intellectual and academic promise, public (group) estimates were larger than preceding private (individual) estimates. In contrast, compromise (i.e., averaging) effects occurred in cells where subjects did not feel that deviation was an indicant of intellectual promise. The second study replicated the shift to larger estimates found in the first and ruled out explanations involving fear of public exposure and repeated testing. In addition, it showed that when subjects felt that larger estimates were associated with intelligence, estimates of light movement did not decrease subsequent to group interaction. It is argued that the observed shifts and averaging effects are due to two different forms of interpersonal comparison. The data are discussed in terms of social comparison theory and the persuasive arguments explanation of choice shifts

Cognitive psychology · Developmental psychology · Behavioral Health and Interventions · Cultural Differences and Values · Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction · Psychology · Social and Intergroup Psychology · Social Psychology

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