Assume that a speaker has low credibility with the audience. For maximum attitude change, how discrepant from the audience's initial position should the communication be?
A) Not at all discrepant
B) Moderately discrepant
C) Highly discrepant
D) Discrepancy is not a significant factor if the speaker has low credibility

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a speaker has low credibility, a moderately discrepant message is more likely to be persuasive than one that is not at all or highly discrepant. This is because a message that is too similar to the audience's initial position may not be seen as offering new information, while a highly discrepant message may be dismissed outright due to the speaker's low credibility. A moderate discrepancy can introduce new considerations without being too far from the audience's existing beliefs, making it more likely to be considered and potentially accepted.

Assume That a Speaker Has Low Credibility with the Audience