4.2 - Attitude

Definition of Attitudes: A settled way of thinking or feeling about something, reflected in behavior.
Influences on Attitudes:
- Stereotypes: Generalized beliefs about groups that simplify complex realities.
- Mental Shortcuts: Stereotypes serve as heuristics to alleviate cognitive load and form schemas.
- Example of Stereotype: Perception that all elderly individuals are slow or forgetful.

Bias: Stereotypes reinforce biased perceptions, leading to prejudice.
Prejudiced Attitudes: Forming opinions unfairly based on someone's group membership.
Discriminatory Behaviors: Acting unfairly towards individuals due to stereotypes.
Importance of Understanding: Helps mitigate the negative impacts of stereotypes on social interactions.

Definition: Unconscious attitudes individuals may not be aware of.
Research Findings:
- Ethnic-sounding names can affect hiring chances.
  - Gender biases in job qualifications.
Bias Concepts:
- Just-World Phenomenon: The assumption that good things happen to good people, reinforcing inequality.
- Out-Group Homogeneity Bias: Seeing members of other groups as similar and unfavorable.
- In-Group Bias: Believing one's group is favorable compared to others.
Recognizing implicit attitudes is crucial for addressing biases.

Definition: The tendency to maintain beliefs despite conflicting evidence.
Example: Continuing to believe in a debunked health myth after exposure to the facts.
Connection to Confirmation Bias:
- We tend to seek out information that confirms our existing beliefs, contributing to belief perseverance.
Practical Example: Confirmation bias at sporting events, where evidence supporting a belief is highlighted while ignoring contradictions.

Definition: Mental discomfort arising from conflicting attitudes and actions.
Example: Feeling uneasy about smoking knowing its health risks.
Reducing Dissonance: Options include:
- Changing Attitudes: Adjust beliefs to align with behaviors, e.g., deciding smoking isn’t harmful.
- Changing Actions: Modify behaviors to match beliefs, e.g., quitting smoking.
Practical Example: Buying coffee in a plastic cup leads to dissonance if one values environmental conservation.

Stereotypes: Can lead to prejudice and discrimination through cognitive shortcuts.
Implicit Attitudes: Unconscious biases that affect perceptions of different groups.
Belief Perseverance: The refusal to change beliefs when confronted with opposing evidence.
Confirmation Bias: The tendency to favor information that supports pre-existing attitudes.
Cognitive Dissonance: The recognition and resolution of discomfort from conflicting beliefs and behaviors, motivating change in attitudes or actions.