Hastorf, A. H., & Cantril, H
They Saw a Game
Hastorf, A. H., & Cantril, H · 1954 (View Paper → )
From this point of view it is inaccurate and misleading to say that different people have different "attitudes" concerning the same "thing." For the "thing" simply is not the same for different people whether the "thing" is a football game, a presidential candidate, Communism, or spinach. We do not simply "react to" a happening or to some impingement from the environment in a determined way (except in behavior that has become reflexive or habitual). We behave according to what we bring to the occasion, and what each of us brings to the occasion is more or less unique. And except for these significances which we bring to the occasion, the happenings around us would be meaningless occurrences, would be "inconsequential."
A thought provoking paper. The study examined how fans of opposing football teams perceived the same game differently based on their loyalties and pre-existing biases. Worrying that we can be influenced to this extent without realising it. Bias is real.