Three kinds of opinion comparison: The triadic model

This at-ride introduces the triadic model, which proposes that the social c omparison of opinion is best considered in terms of 3 different evaluative questions: preference assessment (i.e., "Do I like X?"), belief assessment (i.e., "Is X correct?"), and preference prediction (i.e., "Will I like X?") . Each evaluative question is associated with a different comparison dynami c. The triadic model proposes that comparisons with persons similar in rela ted attributes have special importance for preference assessment. For belie f assessment, comparisons with persons of more advantaged status (or "exper t") are most meaningful, although comparison targets also should hold certa in basic values in common (the "similar expert"). Finally, in preference pr ediction, the most meaningful comparisons are with a person who has already experienced X (a proxy) and who exhibits either consistency (but not neces sarily similarity) in related attributes or past preferences. Prior researc h and 4 new studies are described that support the theory.