The hypocrisy paradigm is a trial tactic which involves the development of cognitive discrepancy between a perceived attitude and that which is real. It consists of two factors. One is that which advocates in favor of normal situation and the other is that which makes the subject become aware of the past misbehavior. This is done in order to bring about difference of opinion to the subjects. It was pioneered by self consistency theorists who put it that, self consistency to the theory of cognitive dissonance will occur when the personal principle of an individual is vulnerable. While this is attributed to the change of behavior as a result of self recognition, induced compliance paradigm is an approach which takes into account the attitude an individual has towards behavior and his likelihood to refrain from it. The latter method is not preferred by most of the researchers. The hypocrisy paradigm is found to motivate people to revolutionize from their current behavior since its approach leaves the subject in a wrangle between the present and the perceived behavior. These people may not be willing to have an attitude towards etiquette, but if prompted on its effect, they are likely to change. The hypocrisy paradigm approach makes the subject to be their own determinants of the effect of their conduct by causing psychological tension in themselves, thus making them desire for change other than when it is induced to them.
The first step the researchers took to test the effects of hypocrisy to behavior change is by coming up with two groups of people. The first group was subjected to different situations, but subject to be examined was common. The first approach was the conceptualization of their behaviors as to be normal. In this way, the group is convinced that whatever it is doing is as a result of the normalcy of the situation. This approach was used so as to make the participants in a normal social setting to believe that whatever that is being done by others is acceptable. In this campaign, it is seen that it is easier to pass on a change in behavior so as an individual may fit in the realistic norm. The second group was that which was introduced to doing the act and recording the outcomes. Here, they are made aware of the effects of what they are getting into and in so doing; they are allowed to record the statistics they collect. This is an approach that engages the participants into realizing the effects of their behaviors by themselves. In this way, the participants will come up with results that will lead to a change in the manner they perceive their conduct. In this approach, the behavior change is seen to improve in a number of ways. Participants in the study were found to increase the number of times they administered condoms as they engaged in sexual activities. As a result of this, the number of condoms purchased drastically increased indicating that they were used more than in previous situations.
When coming to conclusions, the researcher disqualified the fact that not all individuals would want to act in accordance to the norms of the community. People have different views on the way they see things. In this way, they assumed that all participants had the urge to change their behaviors. When drawing their results, it is assumed that all of the participants had sex for an equal number of times. Also, it was assumed that all the condoms that were purchased were actually used. When viewing the outcomes in this manner, it evoke that the participants were aware of the conduct of others so that they may act as the others did.
In order to motivate and change the behaviors of people who spend time in the sun to us sunscreen, the first step will be to introduce a questionnaire to one group of participants. In this, they will be asked to put down what they think is the possible outcome if they started using the sunscreen. They will be asked to outline the expected change in administering body lotions when they are out in the sun. The other group will be presented with the sunscreens and asked to keep a record of how many times they use them. This move is aimed at familiarizing the individuals and to make them assume a situation where they are required to use them in all occasions. They participants are allowed to bring up their own thoughts on the use of the sunscreens apart from other measures. Similarly, they are to put down the perpetuated dangers they would face when not using them after learning the importance of the sunscreens. This way, they will assess the effects of failure to use them in the past.
After the exercise, the outcomes in every person will be analyzed to get the figure of the magnitude of change in behavior. This will then be used to explain to them on what is expected to be done in an occasion where one is out in the sun and what is acceptable by everyone in the same situation.
Works Cited
Zanna, M. (2005).The Handbook of Attitudes, New York: Routledge.
Gawronski, B. (2012). Cognitive Consistency: A Fundamental Principle in Social Cognition, Oxford: Guilford Press.
Worchel, S, (2000). Social psychology; Nelson-Hall Series in Psychology, Michigan:Wadsworth.
Stone, J., Aronson, E., Crain, A. L., Winslow, M. P., & Fried, C. B. Current Research in Social Psychology (Vol. 13, No. 12). Retrieved from http://www.uiowa.edu/~grpproc/crisp/crisp13_12.pdf on July 1, 2012.
