http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0291-694X
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ABSTRACT
Attitude correctness and attitude clarity define the broader concept, attitude certainty. Repeating one’s attitude to oneself causes attitude clarity, while learning that the majority of others agree with you causes attitude correctness. The current research tests how attitude correctness influences emotions and behavioral intentions toward individuals with opposing attitudes. We predicted that compared to clarity, those high in attitude correctness would feel more anger toward an opposing individual and a stronger desire to confront, oppose, and argue with them. Results across two studies supported predictions; believing that you hold the same attitude as the majority sparks feelings of anger toward individuals with differing viewpoints. The current work contributes to our understanding of heated debates and ugly confrontations.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Notes
1. We also ran the regression including global attitude certainty in the model. The overall model was significant, F(3, 352) = 10.50, MSE = 37.10, p < .001, adjusted R2 = .074. Attitude correctness was the only significant predictor in the model (β = .704, p = .022). Attitude clarity (β = .429, p = .307) and global attitude certainty (β = – .824, p = .215) did not significantly predict anger.
2. We also ran the regression including global attitude certainty in the model. The overall model was significant, F(3, 352) = 16.55, MSE = 31.83, p < .001, adjusted R2 = .116. Attitude correctness was a nonsignificant marginal predictor for approach intentions (β = .527, p = .078). Attitude clarity (β = – .016, p = .970) and global attitude certainty (β = – .197, p = .761) were not significant predictors of approach intentions.
3. Because the correctness manipulation showed a nonsignificant marginal increase in measured clarity, it is possible that approach motivation is partially motivated by clarity. To test if correctness independently motivates approach motivation through anger, we ran the mediation model while adding measured correctness as a covariate (in addition to manipulated clarity). The indirect effect was nonsignificant, b = .087, SE = .053, 95% bias-corrected CI [-.007, .202]. The mediation did not hold up when removing the variance associated with measured correctness, suggesting that attitude correctness independently motivates approach motivation through increased anger.