Predictors of Resistance to Persuasion: Propensity of Persuasive Attack, Pretreatment Language Intensity, and Expected Delay of Attack

Abstract

Summary This investigation extended earlier research investigating predictors of resistance to persuasion. Ss were 113 male and female college students enrolled in undergraduate social science courses. The first hypothesis predicted a curvilinear relationship between propensity of attack (i.e., likelihood of having present attitudes attacked) and expected time delay of the attack in conferring resistance to persuasion. As predicted, in the condition of 50% probability of subsequent attack and no expected delay, maximum resistance to persuasion obtained; moreover, as hypothesized, resistance to persuasion decreased as expected delay increased. The predicted main effect for the superiority of moderately intense language in pretreatment messages did not receive support.