Consistency Theory

DEVELOPERS

BACKGROUND

REFERENCES ~ Coding Spreadsheet - Web View

• Abelson, Robert P., Whatever became of consistency theory?. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Vol 9(1), Mar 1983, 37-64.Abstract: In a paper presented at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research Founder's Day Symposium in honor of Dorian Cartwright, the author traces the central idea of cognitive consistency theories. It is noted that although the idea of cognitive inconsistency intrinsically requires a solution, it has been neglected in psychology. Literature on the inconsistency reduction motive is analyzed, and the findings show that from 1958 through the early 1960's, steady mentions of this topic occurred in the Annual Review of Psychology but that by 1971, the median of mentions had fallen to zero. By the end of the 1970's and especially in the last 5 yrs, the median of mentions has risen to a level higher than that during the early 1960's. Differences in emphases in research on cognitive consistency and dissonance during these years are discussed, and their transformation into the tenets of balance theory is examined. G. Mandler's (1975), D. Kahneman and A. Tversky's (1982), and the author's recent views on emotions are used to assess the current status of consistency theory. A theoretical framework for reinterpreting and realistically orienting the previous consistency literature is presented. Comments on the paper by R. B. Zajonc and F. Harary are included. (33 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2009 APA, all rights reserved)