Public approval reduces private adoption

This experiment asks why public approval for one cultural option might raise public expression yet lower private choice. In a browser task, people would get matched exposure to option A. Approval would either depend on public A expression or arrive as matched feedback independently. Option B, a competing action, would compete during A production, then be brought back to mind before confidential choice. The hypothesis predicts a split: contingent approval raises public A expression, while restored B access lowers private A choice. If that pattern vanishes without competing options, it would distinguish this retrieval account from explanations based on A’s value or simple practice. Testing requires equal A competence, B competition, and B being brought back to mind.