Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the so-called boomerang effect in a mutual influence setting. It was assumed that one who was committed to persuading his partner of worth of one's own position an attitudinal issue and who, contrary to his intention, found that his partner strengthened the counter position would become more extreme in his own initial position than prior to the persuasion attempt (the boomerang effect); the more extreme the negative feedback from the partner, the greater the boomerang effect.
Thirty-two male undergraduates served as Ss in this experiment and ran through it in a group of 4 or 6 persons. Discrepancies in the attitudinal positions on the topic (necessity of the participation in student-clubs) between Ss and their would-be partner were adjusted by manipulating the extent (large and small) of the partner's negative feed-back to communicator.
Before-after design was used to measure Ss' attitude changes. The data support the hypothesis. The implication of the results for the theory of cognitive dissonance was discussed.
