SP Unit 5 -Attitudes

Question 1

Mere Exposure (Zajonc)

Answer 1

The tendency to develop more positive attitudes towards things which we are more often exposed to (Zajonc, 1968). For example our face in the mirror vs photographs.

Question 2

Associative Learning / Conditioning (Pavlov)

Answer 2

The formation of an association between two stimuli or between a behaviour and a stimulus. Basically classical conditioning- like Pavlov’s bell.

Question 3

Self-Perception (Bem, behaviour -> attitude)

Answer 3

The formation of attitudes from observations about our own behaviour. For example in a therapy setting helping the client to change their behaviour as a means of changing their self-image.

Question 4

Functional Approach (Katz)

Answer 4

The development of attitudes to meet our psychological needs.

supporters of the Functional Approach (Katz, 1960) would argue that we develop attitudes in order to meet our own psychological needs. This may involve the approval of others, a desire to organise and predict our world, the need to protect ourselves from hurtful self-truths, or the capacity to express a value that is important to us.

Question 5

Attitude

Answer 5

A tendency toward a paticular cognitive, emotional, or behavioral reaction to objects in one’s environment.

Question 6

Persuasion e.g. Elaboration Likelihood Model

Answer 6

A model of attitude change suggesting that people can change their attitudes through a central route (by considering an argument’s content) or through a peripheral route (by re- lying on irrelevant persuasion cues).

Question 7

cognitive dissonance theory (Festinger)

Answer 7

A theory that attitude change is driven by efforts to reduce tension caused by inconsistencies between attitudes and behaviors

Question 8

social learning and conditioning (Bandura)

Answer 8

Attitudes are usually formed through observing how others behave and speak about an attitude object, as well as through classical and operant conditioning.

Question 9

implicit attitudes

Answer 9

attitudes not fully in our conscious awareness

Question 10

tripartite model of attitudes

Answer 10

that attitudes are made up of three main components: cognitive, affective, and behavioral. Cognitive refers to our thoughts and what we know about a certain subject, affective is our feelings towards it, and behavioral is how we act/acted, or at least our predispositions to act towards the subject.

Question 11

Ideology

Answer 11

shared cognitive frameworks for interpreting the environment or society, how it should be, and how the group or collective can get there. In other words, an ideology defines both a set of goals for society and ways to attain these goals. It is the configuration of attitudes together that constitutes an ideology

Question 12

values

Answer 12

global, abstract principles.

Question 13

terminal values

Answer 13

peoples desired end-states in life for example salvation, a comfortable life, inner harmony, freedom

Question 14

instrumental values

Answer 14

people’s preferred modes of conduct ex. being ambitious, obedient, imaginative

Question 15

trade-off reasoning (in values)

Answer 15

when two values are in conflict a process of reasoning in which a person rationalizes compromise to meet the demands they can without damaging their self-image or public image, demanding complex thinking

Question 16

Theory of Reasoned Action / Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen)

Answer 16

postulates that the best predictor of an action is an intention to do it Intentions are determined by attitudes toward the act (a belief that the act will lead to certain consequences and how the individual values those consequences) and subjective norms (beliefs about whether others expect the person to do it and the motivation to comply). Later updated to include perceived behavioural control (whether or not one feels one has the resources and ability to follow through with the planned action).