COMPLIMENTS AND PERCEPTIONS OF PRODUCT QUALITY - AN INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCE PERSPECTIVE

High and low self-monitoring women sampled and evaluated either a rela tively pleasant-smelling perfume or a relatively less pleasant-smellin g one. Some women were complimented as they sampled the perfume. Other s were not given any feedback. The evaluations of high self-monitoring women were influenced only by the presence or absence of the complime nt. Regardless of its actual smell, high self-monitoring women evaluat ed the aroma and quality of the perfume higher when they had been comp limented than when they had not. The evaluations of low self-monitors were similarly influenced by the presence or absence of the compliment . In addition, however, their evaluations were significantly influence d by the actual smell of the perfume.