Unit 4 Topic 3 - Attitudes Flashcards
Describe implicit attitudes (4.3.1.1)
involuntary, uncontrollable, and typically unconscious attitudes
Describe attitudes (4.3.1.1)
an attitude is a learned, stable, and relatively enduring evaluation of a person, object or idea that can affect an individual’s behaviour - can be implicit or explicit
Describe explicit attitudes (4.3.1.1)
openly stating attitudes and behaving accordingly
Identify two possible causes of cognitive dissonance (4.3.1.2)
Decisions and Effort
Define cognitive dissonance (4.3.1.2)
conflict between a person’s behaviour and other components of an attitude
Explain how decisions can cause cognitive dissonance (4.3.1.2)
making a decision cuts off the possibility that you can enjoy the advantages of the unchosen alternative, yet it assures you that you must accept the disadvantages of the chosen alternative
Explain how effort can cause cognitive dissonance (4.3.1.2)
people value things which required considerable effort to achieve. If a person puts in effort to a task which they have chosen to carry out, and the task turns out badly, they experience cognitive dissonance
Define effort justification (4.3.1.2)
reducing cognitive dissonance
Explain how effort justification occurs (4.3.1.2)
change attitudes, acquire new information, reduce the importance of cognitions
Describe the social identity theory (4.3.1.3)
theory suggests a person’s sense of who they are (identity) is based on what groups they believe they are a member of (can cause prejudice and discrimination)
Differentiate between social categorisation, social identification and social comparison (4.3.1.3)
Cat: people grouped into social categories
Iden: people categorise themselves into groups
Comp: examine similarities and differences between groups
Summarise Henry Tajel, 1970 (4.3.1.3)
AIM: investigate the behaviour of an individual towards other in-group member and out-group member
METHOD: Part 1: establishing inter-group cate. - split into 2 group - groups had to allocate money to all participants in any divisions they chose Part 2: effect on behaviour - 3 new groups - same amount of money given, they could either evenly give money to everyone or just their group
RESULTS: Part 1: majority of the participants allocated more money to members of their own group Part 2: majority did not benefit the profitability of the whole group, rather just the profitability of their own group
SUMMARY: - the groups were more concerned about creating as much difference between the groups, rather than consolidating a greater amount for everyone - discrimination caused by the segregation or categorisation
LIMITS: - population & historical validity - ecological validity (lab conditions)
Describe the attribution theory (4.3.1.4)
theory deals with how the social perceiver uses information to arrive at casual explanations for events. It examines what information is gathered and how it is combined to form a casual judgement
Define attribution (4.3.1.4)
drawing a conclusion about the reason for a particular behaviour
Distinguish between situational and dispositional attributions (4.3.1.4)
Situational – person concludes the behaviour is due to environmental factors (e.g. late because of traffic)
Dispositional – person concludes the behaviour was due to innate factors specific to the person (e.g. late because of lack of organisation)
Explain the fundamental attribution error (4.3.1.4)
people underestimate the impact of the environmental factors and overestimate the impact of innate factors when it comes to others - more likely to draw dispositional attribution than situational about other people’s actions
Summarise Ross et al., 1977 (4.3.1.4)
AIM: - investigate why people consistently fail to make adequate allowance for external factors when making inferences about other people’s performance
METHOD: - participants either a questioner or contestant - results were read aloud - participants had to rate their knowledge and their partners
RESULTS: - Q rated themselves more superior than C - C rates themselves far more inferior than the Q - observers rated Q more knowledgeable than C (2nd exp)
SUMMARY: - supports theory - underestimate the role of situational determinants and overestimate the degree to which social actions and outcomes reflect the dispositions of others
Define bias (4.3.1.5)
an opinion or belief held about a person or a thing
Contrast self-serving and confirmation biases (4.3.1.5)
Self-Serving Bias: - tendency to overestimate the influence of innate factors on satisfying outcomes of our behaviours and of situational factors on unsatisfying outcomes of our behaviours - helps protect self-esteem and positive image to others - e.g. succeed at something because you are great, but fail at something and it’s the situation
Confirmation Bias: - tendency to search for, remember, interpret, and favour information in a way that is consistent with pre-existing beliefs and predications (e.g. Donald Trump is good)
Distinguish between the components of the tri-component model of attitudes (4.3.1.6)
affective: persons feelings
behavioural: influence on behaviour
cognition: a persons belief
Distinguish between prejudice and discrimination (4.3.1.7)
Prejudice: an unfavourable attitude or opinion towards a group of people
Discrimination: an action based on an attitude of prejudice, usually aimed at an individual
Describe scapegoating (4.3.1.8)
blaming a group or person for a negative action, event, or results
Describe direct experience (4.3.1.8)
having an encounter with someone, an object or idea
Describe personal prejudice (4.3.1.8)
prejudice held by an individual of another individual
Describe group prejudice (4.3.1.8)
held by an individual towards a group or a group towards an individual
Describe prejudiced personality (4.3.1.8)
some individuals are more prone to developing prejudice
Describe prejudice expressed as sexism and ageism (4.3.1.9)
Sexism – prejudice based on an individual’s gender
Ageism – prejudice based on an individual’s age
