Attitudes and Behaviour

Question 1

When do attitudes come to mind?

Answer 1

Attitudes are internal associations between our representation of an object and an evaluation. Stronger attitudes mean stronger associations. Attitudes can guide spontaneous behaviour if they are easily activated.

Question 2

How do attitudes guide our behaviour?

Answer 2

They can focus our behaviour and shape our interpretations of events. Attitudes make specific features of an object more salient - making it easier to respond to. Attitudes are believed to be pre-established evaluations which can be quickly summoned to guide behaviour.

Question 3

Critiques of automatic attitudes

Answer 3

Attitudes are not consistent and can be manipulated by a wide range of situational factors.

Question 4

What is the Expectancy-Value model of attitudes?

Answer 4

Attitudes comprise expectancy of an objecting having an attitude and the evaluation of that attribute - expectancy-value.

Question 5

Correspondance principle

Answer 5

4 characteristics of behaviour: Specific action, Directed at a target, Contextual, At a specific time. Correspondence principle suggests action, target, context and time must be measured at same level of specificity.

Question 6

Theory of Reasoned Action

Answer 6

Volitional behaviour is the product of rational decision process based around salient beliefs. Behaviour is determined by intention; intention is determined by attitudes and social norms.

Question 7

Theory of Planned Behaviour

Answer 7

Accounts for behavioural intentions in scenarios lacking control. Adds in concept of Perceived Behavioural Control - this rates the ease of enacting the behaviour . PBC influences intention because people intend to do behaviours that they can complete.

Question 8

Critiques of TRA and TPB

Answer 8

Lack of 1:1 correspondence between intentions and behaviour and neither model explains how intentions lead to behaviour.