This study represented an attempt to extend previous research on the resolution and tolerance of cognitive inconsistency in field situations to another natural-occurring event, the Watergate affair, by assessing attitudes of 135 male and 134 female college students on a 30-item mail questionnaire. The results provided strong support for the consistency principle, showing that subjects whose attitudes toward President Nixon had changed from favorable to unfavorable following Watergate tended to hold beliefs about the Watergate affair which were congruent with the change, while nonchangers held beliefs that allowed them to tolerate the inconsistency generated by Watergate.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
AbelsonR. P.AronsonE.McGuireW. J.NewcombT. M.RosenbergM. J.TannenbaumP. H. (Eds.), Theories of cognitive consistency: A sourcebook. New York: Rand McNally, 1968.
2.
ConverseP. E.The nature of belief systems in mass publics. In ApterD. E. (Ed.) Ideology and discontent. New York: Free Press, 1964. Pp. 206–261.
3.
MacDonaldA. P.Jr.MajumderR. K.On the resolution and tolerance of cognitive inconsistency in another naturally occurring event: Attitudes and beliefs following the Senator Eagleton incident. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 1973, 3, 132–143.
4.
SilvermanI.On the resolution and tolerance of cognitive inconsistency in a natural-occurring event: Attitudes and belief following the Senator Edward M. Kennedy incident. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 1971, 17, 171–178.
