When less is more and more is less: The paradoxical metacognitive effects of counterarguing

Nathan Walter; Jonathan Cohen

doi:10.1080/03637751.2019.1580378

When less is more and more is less: The paradoxical metacognitive effects of counterarguing

Nathan Walter, Jonathan Cohen

Department of Communication

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

According to the cognitive perspective, the generation of counterarguments is a key obstacle to persuasion. Following the metacognitive view, however, the experience of difficulty that accompanies increased counterarguing may benefit persuasion. These two contrasting predictions were evaluated in two experiments (N₁ = 392; N₂ = 210) by manipulating the instructions of thought-listing tasks following exposure to a testimonial that advocated for Physician-Assisted Suicide. Results for participants low-in-NfC supported the cognitive prediction, whereby generating many counterarguments (7) led to less favorable attitudes toward PAS, whereas fewer counterarguments (2) engendered more positive attitudes. In contrast, among participants high in NfC, increased counterarguing (7) resulted in more favorable attitudes toward PAS, while fewer counterarguments (2) were translated into greater opposition.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	377-397
Number of pages	21
Journal	Communication Monographs
Volume	86
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/03637751.2019.1580378
State	Published - 3 Jul 2019

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California and the Department of Communication at the University of Haifa, Israel. The authors would like to thank David Ben-Chetrit, the coder who helped make this project possible. In addition, they would like to thank Tamara Afifi and four anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and guidance throughout the review process.

Funding Information:
This research was supported by the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California and the Department of Communication at the University of Haifa, Israel.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2019, © 2019 National Communication Association.

Keywords

Persuasion
counterarguing
metacognitions
need-for-cognition

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Communication
Language and Linguistics

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1080/03637751.2019.1580378

Cite this

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abstract = "According to the cognitive perspective, the generation of counterarguments is a key obstacle to persuasion. Following the metacognitive view, however, the experience of difficulty that accompanies increased counterarguing may benefit persuasion. These two contrasting predictions were evaluated in two experiments (N1 = 392; N2 = 210) by manipulating the instructions of thought-listing tasks following exposure to a testimonial that advocated for Physician-Assisted Suicide. Results for participants low-in-NfC supported the cognitive prediction, whereby generating many counterarguments (7) led to less favorable attitudes toward PAS, whereas fewer counterarguments (2) engendered more positive attitudes. In contrast, among participants high in NfC, increased counterarguing (7) resulted in more favorable attitudes toward PAS, while fewer counterarguments (2) were translated into greater opposition.",

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author = "Nathan Walter and Jonathan Cohen",

note = "Funding Information: This research was supported by the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California and the Department of Communication at the University of Haifa, Israel. The authors would like to thank David Ben-Chetrit, the coder who helped make this project possible. In addition, they would like to thank Tamara Afifi and four anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments and guidance throughout the review process. Funding Information: This research was supported by the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California and the Department of Communication at the University of Haifa, Israel. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2019, {\textcopyright} 2019 National Communication Association.",

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When less is more and more is less: The paradoxical metacognitive effects of counterarguing

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

UN SDGs

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