Dissent as Driving Cognition, Attitudes, and Judgments
Author(s)
Nemeth, Charlan Jeanne
Abstract
Disagreement has different effects on cognition depending on the source’s status as a member of the majority or a minority. Majority dissent tends to stimulate convergent thinking, whereas minority dissent promotes divergent thinking. Minority dissent tends to foster multiple perspectives, which enhances creativity and quality of decisions under most conditions. Effects on information seeking, selective bias and attitude change are discussed.
