A Model of the Extremity, Confidence and Salience of an Opinion

A model is described in this paper which interprets the extremity, confidence and salience of an opinion as different functions of the positively and negatively evaluated attributes ascribed to the object of this opinion. An experiment is described which tests the predictions of this model. The results of this experiment, while substantially confirming these predictions, also suggest that negatively evaluated attributes have relatively greater weight in this situation. The value of the model in explaining already established findings is discussed.