Psychology Chapter on Attitudes and Influence

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Questions and Answers

What is the nature of attitudes as described in the content?

Attitudes are temporary feelings toward certain stimuli.

Attitudes are stable evaluations that reflect a value on something. (correct)

Attitudes can change rapidly with new experiences.

Attitudes are primarily based on physical sensations.

How do attitudes relate to the concept of affect?

Attitudes are part of a broader phenomenon known as affect, which involves good versus bad distinctions. (correct)

Affect describes the transient feelings rather than stable evaluations.

Attitudes can only reflect negative responses within the affect framework.

Affect is unrelated to attitudes and only pertains to emotions.

In what way do stable attitudes differ from short-lived feelings?

Stable attitudes are only applicable to social judgments.

Stable attitudes are based solely on positive experiences.

Stable attitudes persist over time while short-lived feelings are temporary. (correct)

Stable attitudes have no connection to emotions or sensations.

Which example demonstrates the bodily response to affect?

Experiencing warmth from the sun on your skin. Signup and view all the answers

What would be an example of a stable attitude?

Valuing education regardless of specific experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between attitudes and personal values?

Attitudes can influence personal values but are not dependent on them. Signup and view all the answers

How can attitudes manifest in everyday situations?

As stable evaluations reflecting preferences on various topics. Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes affect's operation in the domain of 'emotion' from 'attitude'?

Emotional responses are typically short-lived whereas attitudes are long-lasting. Signup and view all the answers

What was the main purpose of Stanley Milgram's obedience studies?

To investigate the impact of authority figures on normal individuals Signup and view all the answers

What did Hannah Arendt suggest regarding the nature of people who committed evil acts during the Holocaust?

They were ordinary people following orders. Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of Milgram's participants administered the highest shock level during his studies?

65% Signup and view all the answers

How did the presence of two confederates who rebelled affect the participants' obedience?

It decreased obedience to 10%. Signup and view all the answers

What neurotransmitter is associated with the sensation of liking?

Endogenous opioids Signup and view all the answers

How can wanting and liking be described based on the content?

They are separable and can be independently altered. Signup and view all the answers

Which cultural aspect did Milgram hypothesize influenced obedience in Germans?

Deference to authoritative figures Signup and view all the answers

What role did the confederate play in the Milgram's obedience study?

The learner receiving the shocks Signup and view all the answers

What happens to wanting and liking when dopamine activity is enhanced?

Wanting increases while liking remains unchanged. Signup and view all the answers

During the Milgram experiment, what did participants believe they were actually studying?

Learning processes and memory retention Signup and view all the answers

What effect does increasing anandamide expression in rats have?

It increases their liking of sugar. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Berridge & Robinson study (2016) suggest about addiction?

Want for a drug grows, while liking may remain the same or even decrease. Signup and view all the answers

What was the emotional response reported by participants during the debriefing after the experiment?

Horror at their actions during the experiment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following scenarios exemplifies the independence of wanting and liking?

A person misses their ex but recognizes they do not like them. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement is correct regarding cravings and drug addiction?

Cravings can peak even when enjoyment of the drug declines. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of the Lusting while Loathing study, what behavior is observed?

Desire for unattainable items can coexist with negative feelings. Signup and view all the answers

What response occurs when participants learn they are in conflict with the group?

An error-like response from the brain Signup and view all the answers

In the context of conformity, which brain area becomes less active when individuals agree with the group?

Cingulate cortex Signup and view all the answers

What effect does internal conflict have on an individual's motivation to conform?

Varies among individuals Signup and view all the answers

Which factor can lead to rapid changes in private acceptance when it comes to conformity?

Immediate social feedback patterns Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the ordinary face trial in the study of social conformity?

Participants believe peers judged faces only as ordinary Signup and view all the answers

What happens in the attractive face: high peer-rating trial condition?

Participants are shown a highly attractive face with positive ratings Signup and view all the answers

How does the brain respond when someone deviates from group norms?

Activates error detection processes Signup and view all the answers

What does the content suggest about differences in internal conflict regarding conformity?

They influence the degree of motivation to conform Signup and view all the answers

What is de-individuation primarily associated with in group settings?

Loss of self-consciousness Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon occurs when two introverts in a romantic relationship share more personal information than they normally would?

High self-disclosure Signup and view all the answers

According to Gustav Le Bon, what happens to individuals in a crowd?

They act by instinct and may behave aggressively Signup and view all the answers

What was observed in the Halloween trick-or-treating study regarding children's behavior in groups?

Group anonymity increased the likelihood of stealing Signup and view all the answers

What is one potential positive outcome of de-individuation in a group setting?

Encouragement of pro-social behavior Signup and view all the answers

What effect does adding a mirror to a room have on participants' moral behavior?

It encourages ethical decision-making Signup and view all the answers

How does de-individuation impact moral behavior according to recent research?

It can lead to both negative and positive actions Signup and view all the answers

What triggers a loss of self-control significantly in group settings?

Group immersion and anonymity Signup and view all the answers

What psychological effect may arise from being in a crowd, as suggested by Le Bon?

Aggressive instincts may surface Signup and view all the answers

What psychological boundary begins to collapse when individuals are in a group, according to the content?

Self from the environment Signup and view all the answers

Which personality trait is generally associated with higher openness to experience?

Liberalism Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of political orientation differences in a population is attributed to genetic factors?

40% Signup and view all the answers

Which trait is likely to lead individuals toward conservatism?

Conscientiousness Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true about the relationship between attitudes and genetics?

Genetic differences influence a person’s attitudes. Signup and view all the answers

In studies of identical twins, what aspect tends to show a stronger correlation compared to non-identical twins?

Attitude towards capital punishment Signup and view all the answers

Which of the Big 5 personality traits is primarily linked to a desire for predictability and order?

Conscientiousness Signup and view all the answers

What is the implication of conservatism in social attitudes?

A tendency towards maintaining traditions Signup and view all the answers

What can be concluded about liberals based on the personality traits described?

They are likely to embrace new experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the brain when participants experience internal conflict while deviating from group norms?

It stimulates an error-like response. Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario does the brain become less active, indicating agreement with the group?

When they conform to group judgments. Signup and view all the answers

How do individuals vary in their response to internal conflict regarding conformity?

Some have no motivation to conform. Signup and view all the answers

What kind of changes can occur swiftly in relation to private acceptance during conformity?

Rapid changes in preferences can occur. Signup and view all the answers

Which condition provides an example of how social feedback affects conformity during experiments?

Believing peers view an average-looking face as ordinary. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes the error-like response when individuals find themselves in conflict with the group?

An immediate acknowledgment of error. Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is NOT typically associated with the automaticity of social conformity?

Voluntary non-conformity. Signup and view all the answers

How do the brain's responses reflect decisions about conformity?

They are made quickly and often unconsciously. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does the principle of reciprocity have on tipping behavior according to the mint experiment?

Tipping increases when a favor, like giving mints, is perceived as thoughtful. Signup and view all the answers

Which strategy is exemplified by the 'foot in the door' technique?

Agreeing to a small request makes one more likely to agree to a larger related request. Signup and view all the answers

How did the American Cancer Society enhance volunteerism according to their call strategy?

By first gauging attitudes towards volunteering before making a request. Signup and view all the answers

What justification did individuals often use during the Nuremberg Trials for their actions during WWII?

They claimed they were merely following orders. Signup and view all the answers

What was the compliance rate when homeowners were asked about a large billboard request after agreeing to a smaller request, as demonstrated by Friedman and Fraser?

76% Signup and view all the answers

What underlying psychological principle drives the effectiveness of the 'foot in the door' technique?

Need for internal consistency. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of compliance, which of the following describes an intrinsic moral status?

Compliance can be ethical, unethical, or neutral. Signup and view all the answers

What specific request did the American Cancer Society make to community members that significantly increased volunteer rates?

To spend time collecting donations for a non-profit. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about manipulation when making requests is true?

People often feel manipulated regardless of the request's ethics. Signup and view all the answers

What is indicated by the significant increase in tipping when a server shows 'apparent thoughtfulness'?

Thoughtfulness can enhance perceived value in service. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental attribution error?

Believing that behavior arises from internal characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

How did the situational attribution article affect participants' attitudes toward the enemy group?

It resulted in less negative attitudes and a greater willingness for peace. Signup and view all the answers

What impact did Milgram’s obedience study have on participants?

It caused many to develop serious mental illnesses like PTSD. Signup and view all the answers

What is one possible approach to changing attitudes about enemy groups?

Promoting situational explanations for their behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What differentiates situational attributions from dispositional attributions?

Situational attributions focus on external factors, while dispositional attributions focus on internal characteristics. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best captures the psychological process linked between obedience in the laboratory and historical events such as Nazi Germany?

Both events are influenced by a common psychological process despite different circumstances. Signup and view all the answers

What kinds of statements did participants evaluate after reading the articles on attribution?

Statements reflecting negative views towards the enemy group’s character. Signup and view all the answers

What does the insight regarding attributing enemy behavior to situational circumstances aim to achieve?

To promote understanding and possibly shift attitudes towards peace. Signup and view all the answers

What is a key factor that may explain why people hold misunderstandings about enemy groups?

A tendency to attribute behavior to inherent character rather than situational influences. Signup and view all the answers

What outcome did researchers seek by having participants read varying articles on attributions?

To see if attitudes could be modified based on attributions. Signup and view all the answers

What best describes social influence?

A change in a person's thoughts, feelings, or actions due to another person's presence. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of social influence involves directly agreeing to a request from another?

Compliance Signup and view all the answers

What is normative conformity primarily driven by?

The need to be liked and accepted by a group. Signup and view all the answers

What can result in cognitive dissonance?

Being unable to change one's opinion even when facing contradictory evidence. Signup and view all the answers

In Asch's Line Judgements experiment, what percentage of participants remained completely independent from group pressure?

25% Signup and view all the answers

How does normative conformity differ from informational conformity?

Normative is driven by the desire for acceptance, whereas informational stems from seeking accurate information. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario best illustrates conformity?

Laughing at a joke you don’t find funny because everyone else is. Signup and view all the answers

What influences the shift in our fundamental sense of goodness and badness?

Historical practices and the values of others shape our moral beliefs. Signup and view all the answers

What impact does the pressure of a group have on individuals, based on Asch's study?

It can cause individuals to ignore their own perceptions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following exemplifies obedience?

Agreeing to follow a police officer's instructions during a traffic stop. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomena can occur in species that exhibit social conformity?

Less energy expended in mate selection. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement most accurately distinguishes between conformity and compliance?

Conformity is about changing behavior to align with a group, compliance involves explicit requests. Signup and view all the answers

What effect does social pressure have on moral values over time?

They can change, reflecting the shifting beliefs of society. Signup and view all the answers

What role do injunctive norms play in group behavior?

They discourage individuality and promote conformity. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Attitudes

A stable "evaluation" of something
Brains response in placing some kind of value on a specific event, person, stimulus
Affect: The brain's ability to feel good or bad in response to various things
- Sensation: Bodily responses to stimuli
- Emotion: Cognitive response to an event or stimulus
- Attitude: Relatively stable goodness or badness responses which are long lasting

Wanting vs. Liking

Wanting: The desire for something
Liking: The pleasure or enjoyment derived from something
Wanting and liking are separable
Dopamine is linked to wanting: Enhanced activity increases wanting, while depleted activity reduces wanting
Endogenous opioids (enkephalin) and endogenous cannabinoids (anandamide) are linked to liking
Drug addicts demonstrate increased wanting, but liking may either decrease or not change over time

Conformity and Group Influence

Conformity: Changing one's actions, beliefs, or attitudes to align with a group
Automaticity of Social Conformity: The brain automatically detects deviation from group norms and initiates mechanisms for re-alignment
Private Acceptance: Rapid changes in personal beliefs due to group influence
Lusting While Loathing Study: Participants' responses to facial stimuli were influenced by their perceived conformity with group norms, illustrating the impact of social feedback on preferences.

Obedience to Authority

Stanley Milgram’s Obedience Studies: Investigated the extent to which individuals obey authority figures, even when instructed to perform morally questionable actions.
Key Finding: 65% of participants administered the highest level of shock to a learner, demonstrating a strong tendency to obey authority, even when it causes harm.

De-individuation

A process where individuals lose their sense of self-awareness and self-control within a group
Group Dynamics: The presence of a group can lead to a loss of self-control, promoting aggressive or "bad" behaviors.
Trick-or-Treat Study: Children were more likely to steal candy and money when anonymous and in groups, showcasing the connection between de-individuation and immoral behavior.

Self-consciousness and De-individuation

Changes in self-consciousness are directly linked to altered moral behavior
Mirror Study: People in a room with a mirror were less likely to engage in immoral behavior due to increased self-awareness.

The Dual Nature of De-Individuation

De-individuation is not inherently negative.
It can produce positive consequences depending on the context of the group
Positive effects of de-individuation may occur when a group engages in prosocial or supportive actions.

Lebon's "The Crowd"

Suggests humans have ugly instincts that are released in group settings
Evidence for this negative view includes people acting more aggressively in crowds.
Self-regulation normally controls these negative impulses, but they are loosened in groups

Personality and Genes

Personality traits are shaped by a combination of genetics and experiences.
The "Big Five" model describes personality traits: Openness to Experience, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
Two of these traits, openness to experience and conscientiousness, are linked to political orientation:
- Liberals tend to be higher in Openness to Experience.
- Conservatives tend to be higher in Conscientiousness.
These traits also predict behaviour and attitudes.
Research suggests a strong link between genetics and a person's political orientation; about 40% of differences in political orientation can be attributed to genetic factors.
A study from 2005 examined the attitudes of identical and non-identical twins.
- It attempted to determine the role of genetics in specific attitudes.
- Found a stronger correlation in attitudes between identical twins compared to non-identical twins; suggesting a link between genetics and attitudes.
Cognitive dissonance occurs when people try to justify their beliefs and actions when they conflict with their values.

Social influence refers to the impact of other people on our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
This influence can be real (a person present) or imagined (a person not physically present).
Social influence happens both in the presence and absence of people, as long as we perceive their presence.
Three main types of social influence:
- Conformity: When we change our thoughts, feelings, or behaviours to align with a person or group.
- Compliance: When we respond positively to a request from another person.
- Obedience: When we change our behaviours in response to a demand from a more powerful person or authority figure.
The boundaries between these forms of influence can be blurry, as they are often intertwined in social interactions.

Conformity

Conformity affects many aspects of our lives, such as fashion choices, names, and communication.
Conformity is also observed in other species, such as fish forming bait balls to avoid predators and mate choice copying in fruit flies, rats, and humans.
Conformist tendencies may have been essential for survival and reproduction in the past.
Asch’s Line Judgement experiment demonstrated the power of peer pressure:
- Participants were asked to judge line lengths in the presence of confederates who provided incorrect answers.
- The results showed that 37% of participants conformed to the incorrect answers, even when the answer was clearly wrong.
- This highlights the influence of normative and informational conformity.
- Normative conformity occurs when people go along with a group to be liked, while informational conformity occurs when we believe the group is correct.
Conformity can alter preferences rapidly.

Normative Conformity

A group's "norms" are its rules about how members should act.
Normative conformity occurs when we go along with a group to be liked by them.
This need to be liked stems from the fact that people generally like those who are like themselves.
Normative conformity can operate on an instinctive and conscious level.

Brain Activity and Conformity

Brain research suggests that conformity can activate the cingulate cortex, which is involved in error detection.
The cingulate cortex is more active when people are deviating from group norms, which suggests that the brain is naturally attuned to identifying and responding to non-conformity.

Conformity and Preferences

Conformity can change our preferences quickly, even without conscious awareness.
For example, studies have shown that the social feedback about a person’s attractiveness can influence our own perceptions of them.

Cialdini’s Tricks of the Trade

Robert Cialdini outlined several techniques for influencing people based on social influence principles:
- Reciprocity: We feel inclined to return favors. (Mint Experiment)
- Consistency and Commitment: We seek to maintain consistency between our beliefs and actions. (Foot-in-the-Door Technique)

Obedience: "I Was Just Following Orders"

Obedience refers to complying with the demands of a person in authority.
The Nuremberg Trials highlighted the issue of obedience and its potential for widespread harmful actions.

Group Influence

Groups have a significant impact on our thinking and behavior.
Attributions, whether dispositional or situational, influence our views of others.
A study explored how attributions can affect attitudes toward enemy groups like Israelis and Palestinians.
- Participants assigned to the "situational attributions" condition had less negative views of the enemy group and were more willing to compromise for peace.

Dispositional vs. Situational Attributions

People tend to make fundamental attribution errors, overattributing behavior to dispositional factors (character) rather than situational factors.

Changing Attitudes Towards Enemy Groups

Attributions can play a role in changing attitudes towards enemy groups.
By framing the behavior of the enemy group as situational rather than dispositional, it may be possible to reduce negative attitudes and promote peace.

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Description

Explore key concepts in psychology related to attitudes, wanting versus liking, and the impact of conformity and group influence. This quiz will test your understanding of emotional responses and the neurological factors that influence our desires and social behaviors.