How Attitudes influence behaviour

Question 1

What are 4 theories on how attitudes influence behaviour

Answer 1

Theory of Reasoned Action, Theory of Planned Behaviour, MODE model and Composite Model

Question 2

What is the Theory of Reasoned Action? What does it propose?

Answer 2

The prediction of deliberative behaviour.
Attitudes are shaped by the persons expectancy that the behaviour will produce a desired consequence and the value attached to it

Question 3

What is the immediate predictor in the Theory of Reasoned Action?

Answer 3

The intention - motivation to act

Question 4

What two factors determine Intention in the Theory of Reasoned Action?

Answer 4

Attitudes and subjective norms (perceived social pressure)

Question 5

How did Albarracin et al demonstrate the effectiveness of the Theory of Reasoned Action

Answer 5

Did a lit review on studies predicting condom use
Future use sig related to behavioural intention and predicted by attitudes and subjective norms

Question 6

How can the attitude toward the behaviour be measured in the Theory of Reasoned Action

Answer 6

Multiplying the expectancy (intention) score by the value score for each consequence examined

Question 7

How can the subjective norm toward the behaviour be measured in the Theory of Reasoned Action?

Answer 7

Multiplying the belief scores but the motivation scores

Question 8

What does the Theory of Planned Behaviour consider that the Theory of Reasoned Action does not?

Answer 8

Perceived Behavioural Control - whether the action is feasible or not

Question 9

What does the Theory of Planned Behaviour suggest?

Answer 9

PBC influences behaviour in two ways;
It has a direct effect on behavioural intentions
It has a direct effect on behaviour

Question 10

What does the effect of Perceived Behaviour Control depend on?

Answer 10

If the behaviour can in reality actually be performed
i.e people may believe they can do the action but their perception could be wrong
SO it may not predict behaviour

Question 11

What did Madden et al study to compare the TRA and TPB

Answer 11

Looked at several variables for different behaviours and compared how much variance each theory’s variables would account for
If accounted variability is higher in TPB then the PBC variable adds something the TRA doesn’t
This was shown

Question 12

Which variable predicts intentions more; subjective norms or attitudes? What has been shown to impact their predictability of behaviour?

Answer 12

Attitudes
Whether the ptp focuses on private vs collective thoughts

Question 13

What other variables could be accounted for outside TRA and TPB

Answer 13

Individual diff - self-efficacy
Percieved morality of behaviour
Personal need for satisfaction
Anticipated negative self conscious emotion

Question 14

What is the affect of thinking about reasons behind attitude according to Wilson et al

Answer 14

Can change attitudes especially if lacking in knowledge/cognitive support

Question 15

How can we implement our intentions? What does it show about predicting behaviour

Answer 15

If, then plans
Predicted increased likelihood of behaviour matching personal goals

Question 16

How did Orbell demonstrate implementation of intentions

Answer 16

Ptps wrote down when and where they would do a breast examination
64% in the implementation group performed breast examination whilst 16% in the control

Question 17

What does the MODE model look at the the TPB and TRA do not

Answer 17

Spontaneous behaviour as well as deliberative

Question 18

What does the MODE model stand for? What does it mean for predicting behaviour?

Answer 18

Motivation, Opportunity and DEterminants of Processing Mode

Question 19

What does the MODE model suggest

Answer 19

Attitude accessibility influences likelihood of spontaneous attitude activation
i.e if person has sufficient opportunity and motivation they are more likely to base behaviour on deliberative consideration of attitudes and other info

Question 20

How did Schuette and Fazio demonstrate the MODE model?

Answer 20

Exposed ptps to research studies either for or against capital punishment.
Manipulated accessibility (repeated exposure) and motivation (others see responses)
Result: Eval of articles were consistent w/ attitude when it was highly accessible and motivation was low
BUT when motivation was high, attitudes not as correlated w/ eval

Question 21

What factors does the Composite Model suggest affects attitudes towards behaviour

Answer 21

Habits, utilitarian outcomes, normative outcomes and self-identity outcomes

Question 22

What can habits be shown to predict?

Answer 22

Decisions whether to take a bus, bike, car or train to work

Question 23

What relationship was shown between habits and behavioural intentions with behaviour

Answer 23

BI were uniquely predictive of behaviour ONLY when habits were weak

Question 24

What does the role of habits predicting behaviour depend on

Answer 24

stability of the context by which the behaviour is performed. If behaviours occur repeatedly in the same context, they are more likely to be re-enacted in the future

Question 25

What kind of behaviour is habits thought to be and why

Answer 25

spontaneous because the effect was independent of effects of reported intentions

Question 26

How did Holland et al. show how habits can be broken

Answer 26

Got ptps to write the implementation intention for recycling in the workplace and compared to control conditions, the amount of plastic cups and paper thrown away reduced by 75%. Behaviour was shown to be sustained 2 weeks after