4.2 Attitude Formation and Attitude Change Flashcards
Stereotypes
Cognitive Bias. The practice of making generalizations about a group of people, which may not be true.
Prejudice
Emotional Bias. A negative attitude or preconceived opinion about a group of people, often based on stereotypes
Discrimination
Behavior bias. The act of treating someone unfairly based on their membership in a particular group, essentially acting on prejudiced beliefs
Implicit Bias
Unexamined and unconscious but real in consequences. (Not aware of their own subtle bias.)
Explicit Bias
Conscious beliefs, feelings, and behaviors that people are willing to admit. Express hostility toward other groups. (less common in the late 20th century America.)
Out-Group Homogeneity Bias
Tendency to see outgroup members as more alike than ingroup members. “These people are all alike.”
In-Group Bias
The tendency of people to favor their own group.
*Ethnocentrism
Ethnocentrism
Ex) American’s mentality of being the main character of the world.
The belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture.
Belief perseverance
Holding onto beliefs even when presented with contrary evidence.
Cognitive Load
Ex) Being exposed to other ideals, cultures, and opinions but not actually learning or encoding any of them.
The amount of information our working memory can process at any given time. (The amount of mental effort or resources needed to complete a task.)
Just-World Phenomenon
Ex) Explaining or rationaling injustices away out of the belief of a fair and just world.
The tendency to believe the world is just and that people get what they deserve.
Cognitive Dissonance
The mental discomfort a person experiences when their beliefs, attitudes, or behaviors contradict each other, causing them to try and resolve this inconsistency by changing their thoughts or actions to achieve mental harmony
Confirmation bias
Ex) Not exploring counterarguments to one’s opinion.
The tendency to seek out and prefer info that supports a preexisting belief.
