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Construing a social issue: Effects on attitudes and the false consensus effect
Author(s) -
Bosveld Willem,
Koomen Willem,
Vogelaar Rijn
Publication year - 1997
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.2044-8309.1997.tb01131.x
Subject(s) - construals , construal level theory , psychology , social psychology , differential effects , social perception , action (physics) , perception , medicine , physics , quantum mechanics , neuroscience
In two studies we extended Gilovich's (1990) explanation of the false consensus effect (FCE) in terms of differential construal. It was hypothesized that participants holding different positions with respect to a social issue, ‘affirmative action towards women’, would construe that issue in different terms. Further it was expected that the FCE would be affected by that construal. Study 1 provided correlational evidence for these hypotheses. In Study 2 construal was manipulated by providing participants with construals, mentioned by another group of participants. It was shown that participants' own position with respect to the issue was affected by the construals they were provided with, and further that also their consensus estimates were affected by these manipulated construals.