chapter 4 Flashcards
Behavior and attitudes (15 cards)
define attitudes
a favorable or unfavorable evaluation (feeling) of objects, people, and events.
ABCs of attitudes: Affect = emotional reaction, Behavior = actions or observable, Cognition = thoughts and beliefs
when does attitude predict behavior
when they are strongly held, easily accessible, specific to the situation, and stable over time
define principle of aggregate
the idea that by combining multiple observations or measurements of a behavior across differejt situations and individuals, researchers can get a more accurate and stable understanding of a persons underlying trait or attitude, as opposed to relying ona single instance of behavior, which might be influenced by situational factors
differentiate explicit vs. implicit attitudes
Explicit attitudes are conscious beliefs or feelings that a person is aware of and can readily express, while implicit attitudes are unconscious, automatic reactions that may not align with one’s stated beliefs, often operating outside of the conscious awareness
theory of planned behavior
intentions are the best predictors of deliberate behaviors. attitude towards the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived control lead to behavior intention, which leads to behavior
explore how experience increases attitude/behavior relationship
Attitudes become stronger when we have direct positive or negative experiences with the attitude object, particularly if those experiences have been in strong positive or negative contexts
the power of roles in creating attitudes
norms (shared experiences) about how people in a particular position are supposed to behave
define self perception theory
When our attiuddes and feelings are uncertain or ambiguous, we infer these states by observing our behavior and the situation in which it occurs
define self presentation theory
a concept that suggests people often infer their own attitudes, beliefs, and emotions by observing their own behavior and the context in which it occurs, essentially figuring out how they feel by looking at their actions, particularly when internal cues are unclear or ambiguous
How do we manage our self presentation
self-monitoring and aligning our actions with social norms to achieve specific goals in a social setting
Define the overjustification effect and recognize the power of incentives
When rewarding someone for doing something they like, people may view their behavior as caused by compelling extrinsic reasons, making them underestimate the extent to which it was caused by intrinsic reasons. types of rewards make a difference: expect and performance independent rewards decrease intrinsic motivation. unexoected and/or performance contingent rewards can increase intrinsic motivation
define cogntiive dissonance
a feeling of discomfort when a person holds two inconsistent beliefs or a belief is inconsistent with an action. particularrly powerful when inconsistences threathen self worth
When does cognitive dissonance happen, and what factors strengthen it
Cognitive dissonance happens when a person’s beliefs or attitudes clash with their actions, creating discomfort that motivates them to change their beliefs or behaviors. The factors that strengthen ot are making important decisions with difficult choices, feeling a lack of justification for one’s behaviors, and high social pressure to behave. certain way
how to reduce discomfort from dissonance
change the behavior or change a cogntiion
internal vs. external justification and how they differ in action
External justification is a reason or explanation that resides outside of the person. Internal justification is reducing dissonance by changing an attitude
