Reducing prejudice via cognitive dissonance: Individual differences in preference for consistency moderate the effects of counter-attitudinal advocacy

Individual differences in preference for consistency (PFC) and their interplay with situational variables were studied in relation to effects of counter-attitudinal advocacy on prejudice. German adults (N = 202) who initially had relatively high prejudice toward Turks generated counter-attitudinal arguments favoring integrated housing of Turks and Germans. Freedom of choice (low, high) and self-threat (low, high) were manipulated; PFC (low, high) was measured and used as a third independent variable. Control participants generated arguments on a neutral topic. Dependent variables were discomfort at integrated housing and generalized prejudice toward Turks. Results showed that PFC moderated effects of choice and self-threat: Discomfort and prejudice were lowest for high-PFC participants who had generated counter-attitudinal arguments under high choice and high self-threat.