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The role of dissonance, social comparison, and marital status in thinking about divorce

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Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
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Daniel R. Stalder
Daniel R. Stalder
Daniel R. Stalder
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Abstract and Figures

Using a cognitive dissonance framework, this research tried to identify predictors of openness toward divorce and trivialization of wedding vows. Using single undergraduates, Study 1 showed that those reminded of traditional (divorce-inconsistent) wedding vows reported less openness toward divorce than those not reminded (possibly indicative of dissonance-induced attitude change). Study 1 also showed that those who received social-comparison (divorce-rate) information were more likely to trivialize the vows than those who did not receive such information. Study 2 showed that marital status moderated these two primary effects: married individuals showed a stronger vow-reminder effect than divorced individuals, and divorced individuals showed a stronger social-comparison effect. Study 2 also demonstrated pluralistic ignorance in that participants took divorce more seriously than they thought “other people” did. Other results, implications, and counseling applications are discussed.
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Article
The role of dissonance,
social comparison, and
marital status in thinking
about divorce
Daniel R. Stalder
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, USA
Abstract
Using a cognitive dissonance framework, this research tried to identify predictors of
openness toward divorce and trivialization of wedding vows. Using single under-
graduates, Study 1 showed that those reminded of traditional (divorce-inconsistent)
wedding vows reported less openness toward divorce than those not reminded (pos-
sibly indicative of dissonance-induced attitude change). Study 1 also showed that those
who received social-comparison (divorce-rate) information were more likely to trivialize
the vows than those who did not receive such information. Study 2 showed that marital
status moderated these two primary effects: married individuals showed a stronger vow-
reminder effect than divorced individuals, and divorced individuals showed a stronger
social-comparison effect. Study 2 also demonstrated pluralistic ignorance in that partici-
pants took divorce more seriously than they thought ‘‘other people’’ did. Other results,
implications, and counseling applications are discussed.
Keywords
dissonance, divorce, marriage, pluralistic ignorance, social comparison, trivialization
In the United States, despite the popularity of marriage and despite vows and desires of
lifetime commitment, many marriages end in divorce, with serious consequences for
marital partners and their children (e.g., Amato, 2000). This apparent inconsistency
(Cherlin, 2009) and such consequences have motivated attempts by social scientists,
Corresponding author:
Daniel R. Stalder, Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, 800 W. Main Street,
Whitewater, Wisconsin 53190-1790, USA
Email: stalderd@uww.edu
J S P R
Journal of Social and
Personal Relationships
29(3) 302–323
ªThe Author(s) 2011
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DOI: 10.1177/0265407511431179
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