Attitudes & Behavior

Question 1

Social Cognition

Answer 1

focuses on the ways in which people think about others and how these ideas impact behavior

Question 2

Attitude

Answer 2

• the expression of positive or negative feelings toward a person, place, thing, or scenario
• develop from experiences with others who affect our opinions and behaviors

Question 3

What are the three components of attitude?

Answer 3

• affective
• behavioral
• cognitive

Question 4

Behavioral Component of Attitude

Answer 4

• the way a person acts with respect to something

- Ex. avoiding snakes and spending time with one’s family

Question 5

Affective Component of Attitude

Answer 5

• the way a person feels towards something and is the emotional component of attitude
• Ex. snakes scare me, I love my family

Question 6

Cognitive Component of Attitude

Answer 6

• the way an individual thinks about something, which is usually the justification for the other two components
• Ex. knowing snakes can be dangerous/poisonous provides reason to be afraid of snakes

Question 7

Functional Attitudes Theory

Answer 7

-states that attitudes serve four functions: knowledge, ego expression, adaptation, ego defense

Question 8

Knowledge

Answer 8

• component of functional attitudes theory
• provides consistency and stability: help provide organization to thoughts and experiences
• knowing attitudes of others helps predict their behavior

Question 9

Ego-Expressive

Answer 9

• component of functional attitudes theory

- allows us to communicate and solidify our self-identity

Question 10

Adaptation

Answer 10

• component of functional attitudes theory

- the idea that one will be accepted if socially acceptable attitudes are expressed

Question 11

Ego-Defensive

Answer 11

• component of functional attitudes theory

- protect our self-esteem or justify actions that we know are wrong

Question 12

Learning Theory of Attitude

Answer 12

• attitudes are developed through different forms of learning
• attitudes may be formed through classical conditioning, operant conditioning, or observational learning
• Ex. child taught by parents not to swear so child develops negative attitude towards swear words and maybe even toward individuals who swear

Question 13

Elaboration Likelihood Model

Answer 13

• separates individuals on a continuum based on their processing of persuasive information
• has two extremes: central route processing and peripheral route processing

Question 14

Central Route Processing

Answer 14

• one extreme of the elaboration likelihood model
• individuals who elaborate extensively; those who think deeply about information, scrutinize its meaning/purpose, and draw conclusions based on this thought

Question 15

Peripheral Route Processing

Answer 15

• other extreme of the elaboration likelihood model
• individuals who do not elaborate, focusing on superficial details: appearance of the person delivering the argument, catchphrases and slogans, and credibility

Question 16

Social Cognition Theory of Attitude

Answer 16

• postulates that people learn how to behave and shape attitudes by observing the behaviors of others
• behavior is not learned through trial and error but develops through direct observation and replication of the actions of others, personal factors, and the environment

Question 17

What are the 3 interactive factors of Bandura’s Triadic Reciprocal Causation?

Answer 17

• behavior
• personal factors
• environment

Question 18

Compliance

Answer 18

• change in behaviors to get reward/avoid punishment
• not necessarily a change in beliefs
• Ex. Asch Experiment (told confederate individuals to give incorrect answer to vision test and participants chose the wrong answer the confederate chose 75% of the time

Question 19

Identification

Answer 19

• change beliefs to be similar to someone who you admire

- ex. kids often have same belief as their parents

Question 20

Internalization

Answer 20

-you actually change your attitude because of the content of the new attitude