FIGURE 8.3
The Effects of Distraction on Persuasion
In this study, people who were only mildly distracted were persuaded through the central route; they agreed more with a planned tuition cut if the arguments they heard were strong and disagreed with it if the arguments were weak. But being highly distracted switched them to the peripheral route, and their agreement with the proposal was unaffected by the strength of the argument.
The Effects of Distraction on Persuasion
In this study, people who were only mildly distracted were persuaded through the central route; they agreed more with a planned tuition cut if the arguments they heard were strong and disagreed with it if the arguments were weak. But being highly distracted switched them to the peripheral route, and their agreement with the proposal was unaffected by the strength of the argument.
[Data source: Petty et al. (1976)]