Is There Negative Social Influence? Disentangling Effects of Dissimilarity and Disliking on Opinion Shifts

Takács, K., Flache, A., and Mäs, M. 2016. Discrepancy and Disliking Do Not Induce Negative Opinion Shifts. PLOS One, 11(6): e0157948. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0157948.

36 Pages Posted: 5 Jun 2014 Last revised: 21 Jul 2016

See all articles by Károly Takács

Károly Takács

Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) - Centre for Social Sciences

Andreas Flache

University of Groningen - Department of Sociology

Michael Maes

ETH Zürich

Date Written: June 3, 2014

Abstract

Empirical studies are inconclusive about the underlying mechanisms that shape the interrelated dynamics of opinions and interpersonal attraction. There is strong evidence that others whom are liked have a positive influence on opinions and similarities induce attraction (homophily). We know less about “negative” mechanisms concerning whether disliked others induce shifts away from consensus (negative influence), whether large differences (dissimilarity) generate distancing, and whether dissimilarities induce disliking (heterophobia). This study tests discriminating hypotheses about the presence of positive and negative mechanisms in controlled experiments involving dyadic interactions. Results confirm the presence of homophily, do not support the existence of negative social influence, and show a robust positive linear relationship between opinion distance and opinion shifts. This implies that contact might provide the largest push towards consensus in case of large initial differences.

Keywords: social influence, opinion dynamics, dissimilarity, homophily, rejection, heterophobia, experiments

JEL Classification: C92, M54

Suggested Citation

Takács, Károly and Flache, Andreas and Maes, Michael, Is There Negative Social Influence? Disentangling Effects of Dissimilarity and Disliking on Opinion Shifts (June 3, 2014). Takács, K., Flache, A., and Mäs, M. 2016. Discrepancy and Disliking Do Not Induce Negative Opinion Shifts. PLOS One, 11(6): e0157948. DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0157948. , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2445649 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2445649

Károly Takács (Contact Author)

Hungarian Academy of Sciences (HAS) - Centre for Social Sciences ( email )

Országház u. 30
Budapest, H-1014
Hungary

HOME PAGE: http://web.uni-corvinus.hu/~tkaroly

Andreas Flache

University of Groningen - Department of Sociology ( email )

Groningen
Netherlands

Michael Maes

ETH Zürich ( email )

Rämistrasse 101
ZUE F7
Zürich, 8092
Switzerland

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