Some further evidence for the "Socratic effect" using a subjective probability model of cognitive organization.

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Abstract
Examined possible situational determinants of the Socratic effect (i.e., the tendency for inconsistencies among sets of related beliefs to decrease over time). Inconsistency was defined as the deviation from prediction of a subjective probability model of cognitive organization. Evidence for the Socratic effect was obtained in 2 experiments with undergraduates (N = 108). The influence of 3 factors was investigated: (a) increased awareness that the beliefs being reported were related, (b) increased opportunity to recall information relevant to these beliefs, and (c) practice in completing the general type of questionnaire used in the experiment. None of these factors appreciably influenced the magnitude of the Socratic effect. Results strongly support W. McGuire's original interpretation that Ss have an intrinsic desire to eliminate cognitive inconsistencies once the relevant cognitions are made salient to them in temporal contiguity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

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