Determinants of the Attitude-Behaviour Relationship

What are the five factors as to why there is a discrepancy between expressed attitude and observed behaviour

1. WHAT

2. WHAT

3. WHAT

4. WHAT

5. WHAT

What are the five factors as to why there is a discrepancy between expressed attitude and observed behaviour

1. Specificity

2. Time

3. Self-awareness

4. Attitude accessibility

5. Attitude strength

Specificity

• In order for attitudes to predict behaviour the two have to refer to the same level of specificity 

Examples:

• You may think your good at psychology but in reality you are better in some concepts of psychology over others - Your general attitude concerning your ability in psychology would not necessarily predict your performance in a specific aspect of psychology 

• Don’t like brown haired boys because of your ex vs not liking boys in general - attitude towards brown hair boys is more likely to stay consistent vs attitude towards all boys 

Time

The 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

Self-awareness

Privately self-aware people behave in line with their own attitude, whereas publicly self-aware people behave in line with the attitude they perceive the majority of people hold

Self-awareness

• Behaviour consistency is dependent upon WHAT context: Whether your WHAT or WHAT attitude is more accessible

Self-awareness

• Behaviour consistency is dependent upon SOCIAL context: Whether your PRIVATE or PUBLIC attitude is more accessible

Attitude accessibility

Private or public self-awareness can be thought of as the extent to which whether the private or public attitudes are more or less accessible

Attitude accessibility can be influenced by the WHAT and WHAT

Attitude accessibility can be influenced by the AVAILABILITY HEURISTIC and PRIMING

Attitude strength

The stronger one’s attitudes are, the more likely they are to have influence on behaviour

Strong attitudes may not be the most WHAT ones

Strong attitudes may not be the most ACCESSIBLE ones

What are the three things that can affect attitude strength and behavioural consistency

1. WHAT

2. WHAT

3. WHAT

What are the three things that can affect attitude strength and behavioural consistency

1. Information

2. Personal involvement

3. Direct experience with the attitude object

More information = WHAT attitude strength and behavioural consistency

More information = STRONGER attitude strength and behavioural consistency

More personally involved = WHAT they will act in line with their attitudes

More personally involved = MORE LIKELY they will act in line with their attitudes

Formed attitudes through direct experience = WHAT to have stronger attitudes and show greater behavioural consistency 

Formed attitudes through direct experience = MORE LIKELY to have stronger attitudes and show greater behavioural consistency