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Abstract
This study examined how individual differences in motivation to control prejudiced reactions (MCPR) affected one's sensitivity to social norms regarding the expression of gay rights attitudes. After measuring their political beliefs and MCPR, pro-gay rights and anti-gay rights participants took part in a discussion where they faced discussion groups that either opposed their position unanimously or nonunanimously (i.e., four opposing confederates vs. three opposing confederates and one undecided confederate). Anti-gay rights individuals showed more conformity overall, especially when high in MCPR. Anti-gay rights individuals also showed norm-consistent attitude change, regardless of MCPR, whereas attitude change among pro-gay rights individuals depended upon their level of MCPR.
Notes
1. Separate regression analyses were run for voting sets 1 and 2, as voting set 1 could be considered a measure of pure conformity whereas voting set 2 could be said to be an index of persuasion due to the arguments voiced during the discussion. However, the regression analyses were identical in terms of the significant effects that emerged therefore conformity total was used as the final dependent variable.
2. Because any differences in conformity or attitude change between those who were pro- and anti-gay rights could be potentially attributed to differences in attitude extremity, a t-test was conducted to test for any differences in attitude extremity between those who were pro- and anti-gay rights. Those who were initially pro-gay rights (M = 5.58, SD = 0.59) were not significantly different in attitude extremity than those who were initially anti-gay rights (M = 5.57, SD = 0.63), t(415) = − 0.193, p = .479.