| Abstract: | Used 2 experiments to test whether people display a recall bias for supportive over refutive information. While previous work has used broad social attitudes, the present research investigated recall for communications relevant to Ss' behavior. In Exp I, 15 smokers, 36 nonsmokers, and 24 ex-smokers read and recalled information related to smoking. In Exp II, 28 seatbelt wearers, 18 occasional wearers, and 15 nonwearers read and recalled pro-seatbelt material. As predicted, in both experiments Ss' behavior significantly affected their recall of information: Nonsmokers recalled more anti-smoking material than smokers, and seatbelt wearers recalled more pro-seatbelt information than nonwearers. There were no significant effects on any measures when Ss in Exp I were divided into seatbelt wearers and nonwearers and when Ss in Exp II were divided into smokers and nonsmokers. Thus, Ss were selective only on the communication relative to their own behavior. (French abstract) (10 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
