TY - JOUR PY - 2008// TI - The Third-Person Effect in Controversial Product Advertising JO - American behavioral scientist A1 - Jensen, K. A1 - Collins, S. SP - 225 EP - 242 VL - 52 IS - 2 N2 - This research seeks to determine if there is a third-person effect in the realm of controversial product advertising. Survey participants rated their perceived levels of personal offense to product categories as well as the expected offense levels of other groups of people. The results show a significant third-person effect for five of six product categories where an effect was expected. In the case of advertising for racial extremist groups, a first-person effect existed as predicted. The findings suggest previous studies of controversial products may have overestimated actual levels of offense by ignoring the possibility of a third-person effect.
LA - SN - 0002-7642 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0002764208321353 ID - ref1 ER -