Attitudes - Structure and the bi-directional relationship

What is an attitude?

An attitude refers to a set of emotions, beliefs and behaviours towards a particular object (people, things), person, issue or event.

What are the 4 types of attitudes?

Positive

Negative

Neutral

Ambivalent

What is a positive attitude?

You like something

What is a negative attitude?

You dislike something

What is a neutral attitude?

You have no feelings either way

What is a ambivalent attitude?

Both like and dislike something

What is the Tricomponent (ABC) Model?

A = affective: the way someone feels towards attitude.

B = behavioural: how they act (observable) in relation to their attitude.

C = cognitive: the belief or cognition behind the attitude.

The Tricomponet model assumes:

a high degree of consistency between the three components (i.e. they support each other and change in the same way)

What is a Bidirectional relationship?

The relationship between attitudes and behaviour is bidirectional. This means that attitudes influence behaviour just as much as behaviour influences attitudes.

What is attitude strength?

The underlying emotion. The intensity of the attitude influences behaviour.

What is attitude accessibility?

How easily an attitude comes to mind. Also influenced by strength. How well a attitude is remembered influences how accessible it is from memory.

What is attitude specificity?

Refers to the idea that an attitude can relate to a general concept or a specific concept. Specific = more effective. General = less effective.

What is self-perception?

Occurs when we use our own behaviour as a guide to help us determine our own thoughts and feelings.

When people are unsure of their attitude towards something they will look at their behaviour towards the object and alter their attitude accordingly.

What is cognitive dissonance?

When someone behaves differently to what their attitude is they can experience psychological tension or discomfort.

attitudes predict behaviours well only under certain conditions…

• When the attitude and behaviour both occur in similar social situations, away from situational pressures.

• When the attitudes are measured at a specific, rather than general level 

• For low self-monitors

What factors can impact the consistency of attitudes?

• Situational pressures: The environment an individual is in could impact one's attitude depending on those around them.

• Self-monitoring

What is self monitoring?

Refers to individual differences in the tendency to respond to social cues and adjust our behaviour accordingly to the environment.

What is high self monitoring?

someone who is highly concerned about being socially accepted and liked therefore, easily adjusts their behaviours in different social settings.

What is low self monitoring?

someone who is not very concerned about being socially accepted and liked therefore, does not easily adjust their behaviours in different social settings.

Consequences of inconsistency: facts about people with mental distress in relation to attitudes:

• People become distressed when their attitude and behaviour don't align.

• Low quality of life

• Negative impact on mental health

Consequences of inconsistency: inability to predict behaviour in other people:

makes it difficult for research to collect valid data.

Consequences of inconsistency: What is social desirability bias?

Results from inconsistency between attitudes and behaviour.

Changing ones attitude/behaviour in a certain situation to seem socially desirable (i.e. fit in)

Changing one's attitude/behaviour in a certain situation to seem socially desirable.

Describe how attitudes can be affected:

Given the fluidity of attitudes, there are a number of factors that have the ability to impact the way they form or change them throughout someone's lifespan.