Attitudes

Social Psychology

Study of how individuals think, feel, and behave in a social context.

Group Memberships

Exploration of how social influences affect attitudes, prejudice, and interpersonal relationships.

Tri-Partite Model of Attitudes

A model consisting of three interconnected components: affect, cognition, and behavior.

Affect

Emotional reactions or feelings we have toward an object, person, or idea.

Cognition

Thoughts, beliefs, or knowledge we hold about an object, person, or issue.

Behavior

Predisposition to act or behave in a certain way toward an object or issue.

Principle of Compatibility

An attitude is more likely to predict behavior if both are measured at the same level of specificity.

Theory of Reasoned Action

Proposes that the strongest predictor of behavior is intention to behave, influenced by attitudes and subjective norms.

Theory of Planned Behavior

Extends the theory of reasoned action by adding perceived behavioral control.

Implicit Association Test (IAT)

A reaction-time based measure designed to detect implicit attitudes that individuals may be unaware of.

Attitude-Behavior Relationship

The connection between what individuals believe and how they behave, which can vary based on multiple factors.

Attitudes vs. Values

Attitudes are specific evaluations of objects or behaviors, while values are broad ideals that guide behavior.

Attitudes vs. Opinions

Attitudes are internal evaluations, while opinions are verbal expressions of those evaluations.

Attitudes vs. Schemas

Attitudes include an evaluation, whereas schemas are cognitive frameworks for interpreting information.

McGuire’s Chain of Persuasion

A model outlining the steps required for a persuasive message to change behavior.