J. Merrill Carlsmith

J. Merrill Carlsmith

J. Merrill Carlsmith was a researcher and co-author with Leon Festinger of the 1959 Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology paper Cognitive consequences of forced compliance.

Who they are

The work of J. Merrill Carlsmith reaches this site through the paper listed below. On this site the name is tied to Cognitive Dissonance, Induced Compliance.

Key papers

Festinger, L., & Carlsmith, J. M. (1959). Cognitive consequences of forced compliance. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 58(2), 203-210. What it reports: Participants did a dull task and were then asked to tell the next person it was enjoyable, for a small or a large payment. Those paid the large sum later rated the task as dull; those paid the small sum rated it more favourably.

Key ideas

Cognitive Dissonance: The discomfort of holding a behavior and a belief that don't match, and the near-universal fix: change the belief, not the behavior. Induced Compliance: The design in which acting against one's stated view shifts that view.

Sources

  1. Festinger, L., & Carlsmith, J. M. (1959). Cognitive consequences of forced compliance. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 58(2), 203-210.