Final answer:
The truth of the statement that public commitment is less likely to change with a wider audience is supported by social psychological research, indicating a higher level of conformity with public responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
A public commitment statement is a declaration made in front of others, which according to psychological studies has a higher likelihood of conformity and thereby is less likely to be changed. This is grounded in social psychology, particularly the findings of Deutsch & Gerard in 1955, which revealed that public responses tend to encourage higher levels of conformity than private responses. The size and nature of the audience can also affect the level of commitment. When a commitment is made in front of a larger audience or a significant other, the pressure to conform and maintain that commitment is stronger because of the potential social consequences, such as loss of face or credibility, if the commitment is broken.
The audience's size, identity, and relationship to the individual play crucial roles in determining the reliability of a commitment. For example, promises made to a large group or public declarations can serve as a form of social contract, increasing the social cost of not following through and thus increasing the likelihood that the individual will uphold the commitment. In contrast, when commitments are non-public or made to a small or less significant audience, the pressure to maintain the commitment is reduced, potentially affecting its stability.