Universität zu Köln

Kokkoris, Michail D. and Kuehnen, Ulrich (2015). You are (not only) what you choose: A self-expression account of post-choice dissonance. Motiv. Emot., 39 (1). S. 34 - 49. NEW YORK: SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS. ISSN 1573-6644

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Abstract

After making a difficult choice people reduce dissonance by increasing liking for the chosen option and decreasing liking for the foregone option-an effect known as the spreading-of-alternatives (SOA). We suggest that this effect is partly driven by self-expression motivation. While choice is one act of self-expression, it is certainly not the only means individuals can use to express themselves. However, in the experimental settings used so far to examine the SOA effect, choice has always been the exclusive self-expression means. If the SOA effect is indeed partly driven by self-expression motivation, then providing additional means of self-expression should mitigate the SOA following choice. In two experiments we provided participants with the prospect of opinion voicing as an alternative means of self-expression and found that doing so reduced the SOA. We interpret this finding as evidence that post-choice dissonance is contingent upon the availability of self-expression means. Implications about choice and cognitive dissonance theory, as well as practical implications are discussed.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Kokkoris, Michail D. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Kuehnen, Ulrich UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-413713
DOI:	10.1007/s11031-014-9430-5
Journal or Publication Title:	Motiv. Emot.
Volume:	39
Number:	1
Page Range:	S. 34 - 49
Date:	2015
Publisher:	SPRINGER/PLENUM PUBLISHERS
Place of Publication:	NEW YORK
ISSN:	1573-6644
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language ACTION-BASED MODEL; COGNITIVE-DISSONANCE; FORCED COMPLIANCE; FUNCTIONAL-APPROACH; CULTURAL ANALYSIS; PREFERENCE; PERCEPTION; IDENTITY; DECISION; NEED Multiple languages Psychology, Experimental; Psychology, Social Multiple languages
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/41371