Abstract
Summary Differences between two theories of attitude change, dissonance and impression management, are examined. Ninety-six men and 105 women from an introductory psychology class completed three measures of self-esteem and wrote prosmoking essays for an E who did or did not agree with smoking. They were promised either $2 or $10 if selected to read their essay to junior high students. The significant main effect for E attitude and the significant self-esteem x pay interaction indicate that dissonance and impression management theories are complementary, not contentious, accounts of attitude change. Both theories can account for only some of the effects obtained. Neither theory can account for effects due to sex. An interpersonal simulation failed to replicate the main experiment.
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