Propensity of Persuasive Attack and Intensity of Pretreatment Messages as Predictors of Resistance to Persuasion

Summary This investigation was an extension of earlier work in the resistance to persuasion paradigm. Ss were 158 male and female college students enrolled in a sophomore level communication course. Two hypotheses were advanced to test the effects of propensity of a persuasive attack: i. e., likelihood of having present attitudes and beliefs attacked, and the intensity/threatening nature of pretreatment messages. As predicted, in the condition of 50% probability of subsequent attack, there was more resistance to persuasion as measured by semantic differential attitude scales that when it was either highly probable that an attack was forthcoming or when it was highly likely no attack would follow. There were no effects for pretreatment message intensity. Results are discussed in terms of the import to future resistance to persuasion research.