Experiments Inter-Connecting the Structure of Social Representations, Cognitive Dissonance, Commitment and Persuasion: Past, Present and Future

Grégory Lo Monaco; Fabien Girandola; Christian Guimelli

Grégory Lo Monaco Aix-Marseille Université
Fabien Girandola Aix-Marseille Université
Christian Guimelli Aix-Marseille Université

Keywords: social representations, core-periphery analysis, sociocognitive processes, commitment, binding communication, cognitive dissonance, persuasion

Abstract

This article deals with the research in line with the inter-connection between the Central Core

Theory, the cognitive dissonance theory, the paradigms in the field of persuasion, the

commitment and the binding communication theoretical propositions. It proposes to review and

report on a research agenda which falls within the framework of this work of inter-connection. In

doing so, it wants to propose a selection around the question of the relations between social

representations and sociocognitive processes. Finally, it aims to show the relevance of Jean-

Claude Abric’s theoretical propositions and highlight their current vivacity.

Author Biographies

Grégory Lo Monaco, Aix-Marseille Université

GREGORY LO MONACO is an associate professor in social psychology at Aix-Marseille

University. He is co-head of the department of work and social psychology, member of the

Laboratory of Social Psychology, and member and treasurer of the executive committee of the

Association for the Dissemination of International Research in Social Psychology (ADRIPS). He

is the author of several works dealing with social thought and social representations and their

interconnection with the sociocognitive processes at both theoretical, methodological and applied

levels. He is also interested in the questions of social norms, deviance, and intergroup relations.

He has recently coordinated with S. Delouvée and P. Rateau a French Handbook on social

representations entitled "Les représentations sociales. Théories, méthodes et applications" with

the participation of 85 specialists (De Boeck, 2016)

Fabien Girandola, Aix-Marseille Université

FABIEN GIRANDOLA is full professor of social psychology at Aix-Marseille Université (Aixen-

Provence, France). His research focuses on attitude and behavior change (commitment,

dissonance, persuasive communication, binding communication, resistance, social

representation). His most recent research interest is on influence and social representation more

specifically in the domains of environment and public health. He is the author of Psychologie de

la persuasion et de l’engagement (Commitment and persuasion psychology, 2003), co-author of:

“Psychologie du développement durable” (Psychology of sustainable development, 2010), “La

théorie de la dissonance cognitive : Quand les comportements changent les idées” (Cognitive

dissonance theory: When behaviors modify ideas, 2013), “Attitudes et Comportements :

Comprendre et changer » (Attitudes and Behaviour: understand and change, 2016).

Christian Guimelli, Aix-Marseille Université

CHRISTIAN GUIMELLI was full professor of social psychology and head of the department of

work and social psychology at Aix-Marseille University. He was interested in the structural

approach of social representations at both theoretical and methological levels. He has published

several journal articles, book and chapter in this field of research. He has recently published with

P. Moliner a book entitled "Les représentations sociales" (Presses Universitaires de Grenoble,

2015).