AP Psych AMSCO Topic 4.2: Attitude Formation and Attitude Change

Affects

Feelings that contribute to attitudes.

Cognitions

Thought processes involved in forming attitudes.

Behaviors

Actions influenced by attitudes.

Stereotypes

Generalized attitudes about a group, not individuals.

Prejudice

Unjustified evaluations based on group membership.

Discrimination

Negative behavior towards a target group.

Implicit Attitudes

Unconscious biases that may contradict stated beliefs.

Cognitive Load

Mental effort required for processing complex information.

Just-World Phenomenon

Belief that people get what they deserve because the world is "fair"

In-Group Bias

Favoring members of one's own group.

Out-Group Homogeneity Bias

Seeing out-group members as similar to their group while members in your group are diverse

Ethnocentrism

Judging other cultures by one's own standards/culture

Attitude Formation

Development of attitudes through personal experiences and direct interactions

Belief Perseverance

Clinging to initial beliefs despite discrediting evidence.

Confirmation Bias

Seeking information that supports existing beliefs and ignoring info that contradicts it.

Cognitive Dissonance

Discomfort from actions conflicting with beliefs.

Effort Justification

Valuing outcomes based on effort invested.

Prejudice Effects

Can lower self-esteem and cause health issues.

Explicit Attitude

beliefs the individual is aware of

Cultural Relativism

when an individual views and judges other cultures by their own standards

Explicit Prejudice

prejudice that people are aware of and consciously agree with

Implicit Prejudice

negative feelings that an individual has towards another person/group without being aware of it

Stages of Cognitive Dissonance Relief

1. Inconsistency with behavior and values 2. Cognitive dissonance 3. Person either changes their values, behaviors, or perception of behavior 4. Consonance