When Does Self-Affirmation Reduce Biased Processing of Anti-Smoking Messages?

• In Event: Let's Clear the Air: Perceptions and Processing of Smoking Messages

Abstract

Previous research has shown that self-affirmation can reduce individuals’ biased processing of threatening health messages. In this study, we examine two audience characteristics – smoking experience and trait reactance – that might regulate the debiasing effect of self-affirmation in the context of college smoking. Results of a controlled experiment indicate that the debiasing effect of self-affirmation was only evident for smokers who were low in trait reactance.

Authors

• Xiaoli Nan, University of Maryland

• Xiaoquan Zhao, George Mason University