Comparison processes in social judgment: mechanisms and consequences.

Full Abstract

This article proposes an informational perspective on comparison consequences in social judgment. It is argued that to understand the variable consequences of comparison, one has to examine what target knowledge is activated during the comparison process. These informational underpinnings are conceptualized in a selective accessibility model that distinguishes 2 fundamental comparison processes. Similarity testing selectively makes accessible knowledge indicating target-standard similarity, whereas dissimilarity testing selectively makes accessible knowledge indicating target-standard dissimilarity. These respective subsets of target knowledge build the basis for subsequent target evaluations, so that similarity testing typically leads to assimilation whereas dissimilarity testing typically leads to contrast. The model is proposed as a unifying conceptual framework that integrates diverse findings on comparison consequences in social judgment.

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Author information

Author/s: Mussweiler, Thomas (T);

Affiliation: Psychologie II, Universität Würzburg, Germany. mussweiler(-atsign-)psychologie.uni-wuerzburg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Review

Journal: Psychological review (Psychol Rev), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2003-Jul; vol 110 (issue 3) : pp 472-89

Dates: Created 2003/07/29; Completed 2003/08/08; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 12885111, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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