The role of valence matching in the truth-by-repetition effect
(2023) Social Cognition — Vol. 41, n° 2, p. 193-207 (2023)
Files
SocialCognition2023_TBR_valence_matching_accepted.pdf
Open Access - Adobe PDF
- 302.54 KB
Details
- Authors
- Abstract
- People judge repeated information as truer than new information, a “truth-by-repetition” effect. Because repetition increases processing fluency, which is assumed to elicit positive affect, participants may match their positive experience associated with repeated information with a positive (“true”) rather than negative (“false”) response. We tested this valence-matching hypothesis in a preregistered experiment by manipulating the affective congruency of the response format. Specifically, in the congruent condition, participants had to select a positive (negative) picture to respond “true” (“false”). In the incongruent condition, we reversed these associations. In line with the valence matching hypothesis, the truth-by-repetition effect was larger in the congruent than incongruent condition. However, the effect was small, and Bayesian analyses were inconclusive. In addition, the truth-by-repetition effect was significant in both response format conditions. The results suggest a possible contribution of a valence matching process to the truth-by-repetition effect, but one that does not challenge extant models.
- Affiliations
Citations
Bena, J., Mierop, A., Bancu, D., Unkelbach, C., & Corneille, O. (2023). The role of valence matching in the truth-by-repetition effect. Social Cognition, 41(2), 193-207. https://doi.org/10.1521/soco.2023.41.2.193 (Original work published 2023)