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Availability of alternative positions and estimates of consensus
Author(s) -
Marks Gary,
Duval Shelley
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
british journal of social psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 2044-8309
pISSN - 0144-6665
DOI - 10.1111/j.2044-8309.1991.tb00935.x
Subject(s) - psychology , focus (optics) , social psychology , position (finance) , consensus theory , political science , social change , economics , law , physics , finance , optics
We examined a theoretical view suggesting that consensus estimates for a preferred position are influenced by the availability of alternative positions. Study 1 manipulated the number of personal activities presented to subjects, requested them to select one as their choice and to make a peer group consensus estimate for it. As the number of alternative activities increased, consensus estimates for one's choice decreased. In Study 2, consensus estimates for one's choice were higher for those requested to focus their attention on their chosen activity and imagine themselves performing it than for those requested to focus on a non‐preferred alternative. Different theoretical views are briefly discussed.