Which of the following best describes the relationship between a persuasive message, the message's source, and the message's validity, under typical circumstances?
A) Each aspect is weighed independently and compared to the others, to determine the attitudinal balance of the overall triad
B) Perceivers tend to create a fit among the aspects, generally judging them all either favorably or unfavorably
C) The message itself is seen as most persuasive, followed by the source, and the algebraic combination of the two determine the message's perceived validity
D) All of the above

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

According to research in social psychology, people tend to create a fit among the aspects of a persuasive message, its source, and its perceived validity. This means that if a person perceives the message to be persuasive, they are more likely to view the source and validity of the message favorably as well. Similarly, if a person perceives the message to be invalid, they are likely to view both the source and the message itself unfavorably. Therefore, each aspect is not weighed independently or in a specific algebraic combination as in options A and C, respectively.

Which of the Following Best Describes the Relationship Between a Persuasive