Compensatory nonconformity: Self-uncertainty and low implicit self-esteem increase adoption and expression of minority opinions

Kimberly Rios, S. Christian Wheeler, Dale T. Miller

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The present studies tested whether people, particularly those who are most vulnerable to self-threats as indicated by low implicit self-esteem, adopt and express minority opinions to compensate for self-uncertainty. In Studies 1 through 3, low implicit self-esteem participants who were made to feel uncertain about themselves as individuals (versus uncertain about a self-irrelevant issue in Study 1, certain about themselves in Study 2, or uncertain about their group memberships in Study 3) expressed more disagreement with others' opinions. Additionally, Study 3 demonstrated that this effect is specific to minority opinions and does not emerge on majority opinions. In Study 4, the relation between self-uncertainty and disagreement with others' opinions was strongest among participants with both low implicit and high explicit self-esteem, who respond to self-threats in particularly defensive ways.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1300-1309
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Experimental Social Psychology
Volume48
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2012
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Defensiveness
  • Minority opinions
  • Self-esteem
  • Self-uncertainty
  • Threat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Sociology and Political Science

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