Graduation Date
Spring 2024
Document Type
Thesis
Program
Master of Arts degree with a major in Psychology, option Academic Research
Committee Chair Name
Amber Gaffney
Committee Chair Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Second Committee Member Name
Amanda Hahn
Second Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Third Committee Member Name
Stephanie Souter
Third Committee Member Affiliation
HSU Faculty or Staff
Keywords
Social identity theory, Prototypicality, Cognitive fatigue, Democrats, Republicans, Elaboration likelihood model, Social psychology
Subject Categories
Psychology
Abstract
Both cognitive fatigue and group membership impact how individuals respond to persuasive messaging. Cognitively demanding tasks cause mental fatigue, lessening the ability to effortfully consider persuasive messaging and increasing the likelihood of making automatic decisions based on heuristics (Schmeichel et al., 2003). Additionally, self-perception of prototypicality (i.e., level of group membership) impacts motivation to identify with and engage in group normative behavior (Hohman et al., 2017). This research project aimed to further the understanding of how prototypicality and cognitive fatigue interact and come to impact attitude and the effortful elaboration of persuasive messaging.
Recommended Citation
Robinson, James E., "Is cognitive fatigue pushing peripheral group members towards extreme attitudes?" (2024). Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects. 753.
https://digitalcommons.humboldt.edu/etd/753