Document Type
Thesis
Publication Date
1999
Disciplines
Psychology
Advisor
Anthony Sorem
Abstract
Various social psychological theories of attitude, persuasion and cognition are applied to provide post hoc explanations of the attitudes held by various participants such as the media, the public, and both political parties towards Clinton's alleged inappropriate/ illegal actions with White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Specifically, the opinions of each group are monitored and analyzed according to Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, the Elaboration-Likelihood Model, William Perry's theory of cognitive development, Don Byrne's theory of attitude and attraction, and Irving Janis's theory of the effects of fear arousal on attitude change.
Copyright Statement
Available by permission of the author. Reproduction or retransmission of this material in any form is prohibited without expressed written permission of the author.
Recommended Citation
Rademacher, Sara Ann, "A Post-Hoc Analysis of the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal: Application of Psychological Theories of Attitude to Elucidate the Responses of the Public, Media, and Political Parties" (1999). Honors Theses, 1963-2015. 712.
https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/honors_theses/712