Cognitive dissonance: Physiological arousal in the performance expectancy paradigm

Abstract

The physiological correlates of dissonance were investigated using a replication of Aronson and Carlsmith’s (1962) performance expectancy paradigm. Dissonance was predicted to be associated with an increased heart rate and skin conductance response (SCR). This prediction was partially supported; dissonance was significantly related to heart rate changes, but not to SCR. The results are discussed in terms of their implications for the performance expectancy paradigm and its relationship to dissonance and arousal. © 1993, Psychonomic Society, Inc.. All rights reserved.