Resistance to Persuasion: Inoculation Theory in a Marketing Context

Abstract

Inoculation techniques from social psychological theory were applied to a controversial issue in a marketing context. Experimental factors were type of defense, time interval between defense and attack, and credibility of the attacker. In general, predictions from inoculation theory were confirmed: all defenses conferred resistance to attack; the refutational defense was superior to the direct supporfive defense.