Lecture 5: Attitudes

Question 1

Mere exposure effect

Answer 1

tendency to develop more positive feelings towards objects the more we are exposed to them

Question 2

Associative learning: classical conditioning

Answer 2

when a neutral stimulus is paired with a stimulus that naturally evokes an emotional response either positive/negative= previously neutral stimulus acquires positivity/negativity of its own

Question 3

Associative learning: operate condition

Answer 3

behaviour is strengthened following rewards and weakened following punishment

Question 4

Self-perception

Answer 4

=form attitudes from observations of our own behaviour

• then make internal or external attributions
• internal attributions more likely when they behaviour was chosen freely

Question 5

Functional approach

Answer 5

=formed based on degree to which they satisfy different psychological needs

Question 6

Determinants of Attitude-Behaviour relationship: Specificity

Answer 6

• General attitudes are not linked to specific behaviours

* To observe a relationship between attitudes and behaviours, both need to be assessed at the same level of specificity

Question 7

Determinants of Attitude-Behaviour relationship: Time

Answer 7

• Longer the time between attitude measurement and the measurement of behaviour, the more likely it is that the attitude will change, and so the two will become mismatched

Question 8

Determinants of Attitude-Behaviour relationship: Self-awareness

Answer 8

• Can experience different kinds of self-awareness prior to carrying out a behaviour, which can impact the strength of the relationship between attitudes and behaviour
• Privately self-aware behave in line with their own attitudes
• Publicly self-aware behave in line with attitude they perceive the majority of other people to hold , especially when audience present

Question 9

Determinants of Attitude-Behaviour relationship: Attitude accessibility

Answer 9

• Linked to idea of automatic behaviour

* Priming with a specific type of attitude, can exert significant impact on people’s behaviour

Question 10

Determinants of Attitude-Behaviour relationship: Attitude strength

Answer 10

• The stronger attitudes are the more likely they are to influence behaviour

Question 11

Theory of Planned Behaviour

Answer 11

Developed to account for processes by which people consciously decide to engage in specific behaviour
Intentions based on
-attitudes: beliefs about consequences of behaviour
-subjective norms (what others think)
-perceived behavioural control: are you confident that you can do it