COMPONENTS OF VESTED INTEREST AND ATTITUDE-BEHAVIOR CONSISTENCY

The hedonic relevance of an attitude object (or vested interest) is hy pothesized as a major element fostering attitude-behavior consistency. Hypothetically, various factors may attenuate effects of vested inter est on attitude-behavior consistency, including attitudinal salience, the certainty of the attitude-outcome link, the immediacy of attitude- implicated consequences, and the self-efficacy of the individual to pe rform an attitudinally implicated act. Effects of these factors were i nvestigated in a large scale (N > 900 participants) simulation experim ent. Results disclosed the overwhelming importance of stake, as hypoth esized. In addition, the other factors had a powerful effect on attitu de and subsequent attitude-behavior consistency. Implications of veste d interest for developing a better understanding of the manner in whic h attitudes ''behave,'' and affect behavior, were discussed.