Chapter 6: Attitudes Functions Flashcards
Functional theories of attitude
examine why people hold the attitudes they do.
What are the 6 functions of attitude
- Knowledge
- Utilitarian
- Social Adjustive
- Social Identity
- Value - Expressive
- Ego - Defensive
Knowledge
Attitudes help people make sense of the world and explain baffling events. Assists individuals in cognitively coming to terms with the array of ambiguous and sometimes scary stimuli they face in everyday life. Ex: religion
Utilitarian
Attitudes help people obtain rewards and avoid punishments. If you look at the brighter side of things, you can more easily muster the motivation to study.
Social Adjustive
Attitudes help us to “adjust to” reference groups. Adopt an attitude not because you agree with it, but because they believe they will be more accepted by others
Social Identity
People hold attitudes to communicate who they are and what they aspire to be. One reason to buy certain products, to communicate something special about themselves. Products fulfill social identity functions.
Value - Expressive
People hold attitudes to express core values and cherished beliefs.Pervasive - (especially of an unwelcome influence or physical effect) spreading widely throughout an area or a group of people. Think of body piercings to gain independence from parents
Ego - Defensive
Attitudes can serve as a “defense” against unpleasant emotions that people do not want to consciously acknowledge. Shields from psychologically uncomfortable truths.
Central principle of functional theory
the same attitudes can serve different functions for different people. Different people may hold the same attitude toward something, but they may harbor this view for very different reasons. Ex: volunteering.
Functional theory suggests
a persuasive message is most likely to change an individual’s attitude when the message is directed at the underlying function the attitude serves. Messages that match the function served by an attitude should be more compelling than those that are not relevant to the function addressed by the attitude.
To change an attitude..
one must understand the function it serves and direct the message to the underlying function
Functional theory stipulates..
people would not hold attitudes unless they satisfied core human needs. T
What is the best way to change an attitude?
Understand it - and appreciate its psychological roots
Dysfunctional attitude
Satisfies the individuals certain needs but can be detrimental in another respect. Ex: smoking assists a person in coping with stress management, but serves a dysfunctional effect in another area, the individuals health.
