Suspicion is a Heavy Armor! A Mindset Account for the Carryover Effects of Suspicion on Unrelated Persuasion Attempts

By conceptualizing suspicion as a mindset, this research investigates the carryover effects of suspicion on the processing of subsequent unrelated persuasion attempts. The first two studies provide evidence for this mindset account by demonstrating its carryover effects on subsequent unrelated judgments and advertisements. A third study shows that unresolved suspicion limits cognitive capacity in subsequent unrelated situations. A fourth study draws on these previous results to demonstrate counterintuitive consequences of suspicion for product placements. This research has practical implications for advertisements or product placements appearing after suspicious television/movie scenes.