Attitudes

Question 1

definitions of attitude

Answer 1

A mental and neural state of readiness, organised through experience, exerting a directive or dynamic influence upon the individual’s response to all objects and situations with which it is related (Allport, 1935: 810)

“Person’s evaluations of various aspects of their social world” (Tesser, 1993)

Question 2

Components of attitudes

Answer 2

One-component model of attitudes
Do you like the object or not? (Thurstone, 1931)

Two-component attitude model (Allport)
Based on Allport. Mental readiness (predisposition) and judgmental responses

Three-component attitude model (Rosenberg & Hovland, 1960)

1. Affective component - what you feel
2. Behavioural component - what you do
3. Cognitive component - what you believe

Question 3

‘ABC’ model assumes…

Answer 3

behaviour part of wider attitude

It might be possible that behaviour and attitude not so clearly linked

Question 4

La Pière’s conclusions…

Answer 4

Questionnaires should only be used to assess ‘symbolic attitudes’ e.g. political or religious beliefs

To predict behaviour, requires observation of people in actual social situations

There is no link between people’s attitudes and their behaviour

Question 5

Attitude functions

Answer 5

Knowledge function

Utilitarian function

Value-expressive function

Ego defensive function

Question 6

knowledge function

Attitudes work as…

Answer 6

schemas

Question 7

Utilitarian function

Answer 7

having ‘right’ attitudes help attain rewards and avoid punishment
Impression management function

Question 8

Value-expressive function

Answer 8

Express deep-seated values
Eg. If you value equality, you will not have negative attitudes about disadvantaged groups
Often most resistant to change (Maio and Olson, 2000)
More likely to inspire commitment to attitude­ consistent behaviours such as volunteering

Question 9

Ego defensive function

Answer 9

Attitudes can protect us from psychological threats.
Having +ve attitude to ourselves – high self­ esteem – appears to make us less anxious and defensive when confronted with the inevitability of our own death

Question 10

How we form attitudes

Answer 10

Mere exposure effect

Social Learning (SL)

• Classical Conditioning
• Instrumental Conditioning
• Observational Learning

Innate factors (Genetically inherited attitudes)

Attitude Consistency & Balance Theory

Social representations

Question 11

Classical conditioning

Answer 11

If stimulus associated object that elicits –ve response, then –ve attitude may form to that stimulus

Question 12

Instrumental Conditioning

Answer 12

Behaviour that is followed by positive reinforcement is more likely to be repeated

Question 13

Observational Learning

Answer 13

Learn attitudes by observing others

Question 14

Attitude Change: Cognitive dissonance

Answer 14

“unpleasant psychological state of tension and discomfort that occurs when people notice that their attitudes and behaviours are inconsistent with each other” Festinger (1957)

Question 15

Inconsistent behaviour/attitudes cause…
Therefore motivation to change
Beliefs, attitudes, or behaviour
Attitudes become changeable

Answer 15

anxiety

Question 16

Cognitive dissonance

Answer 16

Inconsistency between behaviour & attitude
To reduce it more likely to change attitude
Does require a state of tension for motivation to change Dissonance does lead to negative affect
Can reduce tension directly or indirectly

Question 17

Discursive Psychology

Answer 17

Attitudes do not reflect internal states
They are not stable or consistent
attitudes are public displays designed to do something in a particular social interaction