The Tolerant Social Norm Effect: are Norms of Tolerance More Powerful than Prejudicial Norms?

Author

Rachael E. Carroll

Issuing Body

Mississippi State University

Advisor

McMillen, Robert

Committee Member

Hood, Kristina B.

Committee Member

Nadorff, Michael

Date of Degree

8-15-2014

Document Type

Graduate Thesis - Open Access

Major

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science

College

College of Arts and Sciences

Department

Department of Psychology

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine how a manipulated majority position affects attitude change for intergroup and non-intergroup issues. Specifically I wanted to see how norms of tolerance and norms of prejudice differed. The study employed a 3 (majority manipulated position: positive, neutral, or negative) X 2 (issue type: intergroup or non-intergroup) ANCOVA. Additionally, I wanted to examine how participants’ perceived societal direction affects attitude change for intergroup issues with a 3 (majority manipulated position: positive, neutral, or negative) X 3 (perceived direction of attitude: support, stay the same, negative) ANOVA. Participants were randomly assigned to view a majority manipulation position. Attitude change was determined by a difference between a pre-and post-manipulation score. In partial support of my hypothesis intergroup issues elicited more norm-consistent attitude change than non-intergroup topics, however this was driven by a prejudicial social norm effect. No effect was found for perceived societal direction.

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11668/19862

Recommended Citation

Carroll, Rachael E., "The Tolerant Social Norm Effect: are Norms of Tolerance More Powerful than Prejudicial Norms?" (2014). Theses and Dissertations. 4677.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/4677