From Jest to Antipathy: Disparagement Humor as a Source of Dissonance-Motivated Attitude Change

Hobden, Karen L.; Olson, James M.

doi:10.1207/s15324834basp1503_2

Cited by 34 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…A well-known finding in the cognitive dissonance paradigm shows that the effects of behavior on attitude formation is strongest when the behavior is not forced on experimental participants but rather self-selected (Hobden & Olson, 1994). The polarizing effect of ideological media could be viewed as a dissonance-reducing effect of exposure behaviors on attitudes.…”

Section: Forced Versus Self-selected Exposurementioning

confidence: 97%

Selective Exposure, Political Polarization, and Possible Mediators: Evidence From the Netherlands

Trilling

Klingeren

Tsfati

2016

Int J Public Opin Res

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One of the main lines of reasoning in the contemporary debate on media effects is the notion that selective exposure to congruent information can lead to political polarization.Comparatively little experimental evidence, however, is available to empirically back up the claim of a causal relationship. Even less is known about the mechanisms behind such an effect. We conducted an online experiment with a sample matching the characteristics of the Dutch population closely (N = 501), and investigate how selective exposure can lead to polarized attitudes and which role frames, facts, and public opinion cues play. While we find that facts learned and perceived public opinion can help explaining attitude change, we cannot confirm that people generally polarize.

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Section: Forced Versus Self-selected Exposurementioning

confidence: 97%

Selective Exposure, Political Polarization, and Possible Mediators: Evidence From the Netherlands

Trilling

Klingeren

Tsfati

2016

Int J Public Opin Res

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“…Arguably, the authen ticity of the moral credentials (both to the individual attempt ing to get credentialed and to outside observers) is dependent on whether the individual actively chose to gain those cre dentials through selfdirected behaviors. This effect may be explained by the role of choice in the insufficient justification effect (Festinger & Carlsmith, 1959;Hobden & Olson, 1994;Stukas, Snyder, & Clary, 1999). For instance, in one study, participants either were given a choice or were instructed to tell disparaging jokes about lawyers (Hobden & Olson, 1994).…”

Section: The Importance Of Free Choice In Establishing Moral Credentialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This effect may be explained by the role of choice in the insufficient justification effect (Festinger & Carlsmith, 1959;Hobden & Olson, 1994;Stukas, Snyder, & Clary, 1999). For instance, in one study, participants either were given a choice or were instructed to tell disparaging jokes about lawyers (Hobden & Olson, 1994). The results show that choice played a significant role in atti tudes, as those who chose to tell the jokes exhibited more negative attitudes toward lawyers later on, presumably because they had insufficient justification for why they chose to tell the jokes.…”

Section: The Importance Of Free Choice In Establishing Moral Credentialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moral Credentialing by Association: The Importance of Choice and Relationship Closeness

Bradley-Geist

King

Skorinko

et al. 2010

Pers Soc Psychol Bull

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People express more prejudice if they have established their "moral credentials." Five studies explored the acquisition of moral credentials through associations with racial minorities, particularly close relationships that are personally chosen. Participants choosing to write about a positive experience with a Black person (Study 1) or Hispanic person (Study 2) subsequently expressed more preference for Whites and tolerance of prejudice than did other participants. In Study 3, the credentialing effect of choice was diminished when participants were given an incentive for that choice. Participants in Study 4 who wrote about a Black friend were more credentialed than those who wrote about a Black acquaintance, regardless of whether the experience was positive or negative. Study 5 suggested that participants strategically referred to close associations with minorities when warned of a future situation in which they might appear prejudiced.

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“…In their study on the effects of reciting disparagement humor, Hobden and Olson (1994) asked participants individually to recite a number of anti-lawyer jokes under conditions of either high or low free choice. They found that participants who freely chose to recite the anti-lawyer jokes reported more negative attitudes toward lawyers.…”

Section: Disparagement Humor As An Initiator Of Prejudicementioning

confidence: 99%

“…They found that participants who freely chose to recite the anti-lawyer jokes reported more negative attitudes toward lawyers. Hobden and Olson (1994) suggested that cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger 1957) could explain these findings. According to cognitive dissonance theory, participants changed their attitudes toward lawyers to become more negative as a means of reducing cognitive dissonance associated with telling jokes that disparaged lawyers.…”

Section: Disparagement Humor As An Initiator Of Prejudicementioning

confidence: 99%

Disparagement humor and prejudice: Contemporary theory and research

Ford

Richardson

Petit

2015

Humor

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In this article we review contemporary research testing Martineau's (1972) hypothesis that disparagement humor fosters or introduces prejudice against the disparaged out-group. Supporting Martineau's hypothesis, research suggests that instigating disparagement humor might indeed foster prejudice against the targeted group; however, through mechanisms that do not implicate unique effects of humor as a medium for communicating disparagement. Contrary to Martineau's hypothesis, it does not appear that exposure to disparagement humor promotes a negative disposition toward the targeted group. Rather than acting as an initiator of prejudice, disparagement humor functions as a releaser of existing prejudice. Lastly, following Martineau's theoretical framework, we identify new questions about the social consequences of disparagement humor that require further theoretical development and empirical research.

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From Jest to Antipathy: Disparagement Humor as a Source of Dissonance-Motivated Attitude Change

Cited by 34 publications

References 17 publications

Selective Exposure, Political Polarization, and Possible Mediators: Evidence From the Netherlands

Selective Exposure, Political Polarization, and Possible Mediators: Evidence From the Netherlands

Moral Credentialing by Association: The Importance of Choice and Relationship Closeness

Disparagement humor and prejudice: Contemporary theory and research

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