Publications [#39582] of Wendy Wood

Journal Articles

1. Matz, D., & Wood, W (2005). Cognitive dissonance in groups: The consequences of disagreement. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology: Attitudes and Social Cognition, 88, 22-37.
   (last updated on 2008/11/24)

   Abstract:
   As L. Festinger (1957) argued, the social group is a source of cognitive dissonance as well as a vehicle for reducing it. That is, disagreement from others in a group generates dissonance, and subsequent movement toward group consensus reduces this negative tension. The authors conducted 3 studies to demonstrate group-induced dissonance. In the first, students in a group with others who ostensibly disagreed with them experienced greater dissonance discomfort than those in a group with others who agreed. Study 2 demonstrated that standard moderators of dissonance in past research—lack of choice and opportunity to self-affirm, similarly reduced dissonance discomfort generated by group disagreement. In Study 3, the dissonance induced by group disagreement was reduced through a variety of interpersonal strategies to achieve consensus, including persuading others, changing one’s own position, and joining an attitudinally congenial group.