social judgment theory

a theory of attitude change postulating that the magnitude of persuasion produced by a particular message depends on how much the position advocated in the message differs from a person’s attitude. Persuasion is likely to be greatest when a message advocates a position that a person finds neither clearly acceptable nor clearly objectionable. See also latitude of acceptance; latitude of noncommitment; latitude of rejection. [attributed to U.S. psychologists Carolyn Wood Sherif (1922–1982), Muzafer Sherif, and Carl I. Hovland]

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Psychology term of the day

November 22nd 2024

social degeneracy

a condition in which social structures and behavioral norms no longer function constructively.