Unavailability Effects on Message Processing: A Theoretical Analysis an Empirical Test
- 1 March 1992
- journal article
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Basic and Applied Social Psychology
- Vol. 13 (1) , 93-101
- https://doi.org/10.1207/s15324834basp1301_8
Abstract
Perceptions of message unavailability have been found to lead to greater perceived value of the message and attitude change toward the advocated position, We investigated the hypothesis that perception of message unavailability leads to increased processing of message content. Ninety-six undergraduates were exposed to a persuasive communication. Half of the subjects were led to believe that the message was unavailable to others, and half were told that the message was readily available to others. Motivation to scrutinize the persuasive message was improved by perception of unavailability for subjects who were low in need for cognition; this relationship was reversed for subjects who were high in need for cognition.Keywords
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