Do Third-Person Perceptions Amplify Exemplification Effects?

Authors

  • Sebastian Scherr Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
  • Philipp Müller Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
  • Victoria Fast Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

Keywords:

Exemplification effect, base-rate fallacy, third-person effect, climate of opinion, personal opinion, experiment

Abstract

The presumed underlying mechanism of exemplification effects is that people generalize single-case media depictions and overestimate their position of social relevance, while at the same time neglecting more valid base-rate information. A 2 × 2 between-subjects experiment with n = 112 participants explored whether these exemplification effects can be explained by presumptions of strong media influences on others. Participants were shown a “rate my professor”-type website stimulus in which a single user had commented on a university course. Results show that fundamental assumptions of exemplification research interact with presumed media influences: exemplification effects can be amplified by third-person perceptions, particularly when people assess public opinion.

Author Biographies

Sebastian Scherr, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

MA

Philipp Müller, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

MA

Victoria Fast, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

MA

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Published

2013-08-30

Issue

Vol. 7 (2013)

Section

Articles

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