ABSTRACT
Behavior is overt and open to social definition and provides, therefore, more precise information than the internal cues produced by attitudes and beliefs. The goal of the extension was to locate stimulus and subject parameters which might influence the relative strength of these two processes: self-persuasion from behavior or judgments based upon changing stimulus attributes. High tolerance subjects are expected to show the self-persuasion effect; they are relatively unafraid and insensitive to shock. Their escape behavior is likely to be salient to them. Self-persuasion from one's instrumental escape behavior occurs only for high-shock-tolerance subjects. Low-tolerance subjects show an opposite pattern—after choosing to escape a shock they rate it as less uncomfortable than a shock which is escaped without choice. The low tolerance subjects are relatively fearful and sensitive to the pain of shock. Thus, when the shock is escaped by choice one expects them to feel less discomfort than when the shock is terminated by chance.
