Psychology 2121 - Topic 7 (Attitudes and Rationalization) Flashcards | Quizlet

What is the definition of an attitude?

A relatively enduring evaluation of a target including people, objects, social issues, abstract concepts, etc.

What are the three ABC's of attitudes?

Affect, Behaviour, Cognition

What is the affect component of attitudes?

A component of attitudes that includes the overall positive or negative evaluation.

What is the behaviour component of attitudes?

A component of attitudes that include certain actions linked with certain attitudes.

What is the cognition component of attitudes?

A component of attitudes that describes how they are affected by our thoughts, beliefs and knowledge.

What is the strength of the correlation between attitudes and their ability to predict behaviour?

Weak

What is the strength of the correlation between behaviours and their ability to influence attitudes?

Strong

What is cognitive consistency?

Causes people to change their attitudes in order to match their behaviour and restore balance between the two.

What is cognitive dissonance?

The tension that arises when one is simultaneously aware of two conflicting thoughts, beliefs or values; causes motivation to change something and reduce the feeling.

What occurs during the Free Choice Paradigm?

Occurs when a difficult decision causes rationalization, causing people to like or dislike things more extremely after choosing between similar options due to cognitive dissonance.

What is effort justification?

Occurs when efforts and difficulties are rationalized as worthwhile to reduce dissonance, making our attitudes match; measured by giving participants an opportunity to join an ongoing discussion group regarding sexual topics.

How was effort justification measured in the study noted?

By giving participants an opportunity to join an ongoing discussion group regarding sexual topics.

What are the four conditions in which inconsistency produces dissonance?

Free Choice, Insufficient Justification, Negative Consequences and Forseeability.

What are the effects of self-affirmation on cognitive dissonance?

Reduces the need to change one's attitude and reduces the self-threat related to cognitive dissonance.

What does Self-Perception Theory state?

A theory that claims that people do not experience cognitive dissonance and people instead rationally guess what their attitude are.

Under what specific conditions can self-perception explain attitude-change based behaviour?

Only when the attitude is not important, weak, or vague.

What targets are included in the evaluation that defines an attitude?

People, objects, social issues, abstract concepts, etc.

Why does cognitive consistency cause people to change their attitudes to match behaviour?

To restore balance between the two.

What does the tension in cognitive dissonance motivate an individual to do?

Causes motivation to change something and reduce the feeling.

Why do people come to like or dislike things more extremely after choosing between similar options in the Free Choice Paradigm?

Due to cognitive dissonance.

Why are efforts and difficulties rationalized as worthwhile in effort justification?

To reduce dissonance, making our attitudes match.

According to Self-Perception Theory, what do people do instead of experiencing dissonance?

People instead rationally guess what their attitude are.

What is the topic number and title of these lecture notes?

Topic 7 (Attitudes and Rationalization)

What course number do these Topic 7 notes belong to?

Psychology 2121

What is the title of Psychology 2121 - Topic 6 referenced in the document?

Topic 6 (Emotion and Well-being)