Abstract
This study investigated changes of attitude and feelings which occur after high and low self-monitors (HSMs and LSMs, respectively) have engaged in counterattitudinal behaviour. After completing the self-monitoring scale, subjects performed a task under the forced compliance paradigm, and then their attitude and feelings were measured. The results indicated that the HSMs made little change in their attitude, while the LSMs changed their attitude to make it more compatible to the forced behaviour. 0n the other hand, the LSM changed little in terms of feelings, such as unpleasantness and depression, whereas the HSM showed an increase in them. Three possible implications were discussed: 1) the discrepancy between attitude and behaviour was perhaps injurious to the HSM's mental health; 2) the LSM merely tried to be consistent, and such a mental effort might become stressful for them; 3) the HSMs might have used the feeling scales for self-presentation, probably to make the situation more advantageous for them. Finally, the validity issues of the scale were discussed.
