Questions and Answers
What do attitudes primarily consist of?
How do values influence behaviour according to the content?
What characterizes symbolic attitudes?
What is instrumental attitudes primarily focused on?
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Which factor is NOT mentioned as a way in which attitudes are formed?
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According to self-perception theory, how do we infer our attitudes?
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Which of the following is a key characteristic of values?
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What is an attitude not necessarily formed from, according to the content?
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What does the Knowledge Function of attitudes primarily aim to achieve?
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Which factor is most likely to enhance the ability of attitudes to predict behavior?
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What is the primary reason behind the tendency of attitudes to change when there is inconsistency with behavior?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic that can influence the effectiveness of persuasive communication?
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What does the theory of Cognitive Dissonance primarily address?
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What is the primary definition of prejudice as described in the content?
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Which of these factors is associated with the Ego-Defense Function of attitudes?
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In what way does the Sleeper Effect relate to persuasive communication?
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Study Notes
Attitudes Overview
- Attitudes represent positive or negative evaluations toward objects, including people, events, and issues.
- Made up of three components: Beliefs, Feelings, and Behavior; not all components need to be present for an attitude to exist.
Influence of Values
- Values are enduring beliefs about life goals such as Peace, Wisdom, Equality, and Happiness.
- Values play a role in influencing behavior through their impact on attitudes.
- Research indicates values shape attitudes, which in turn dictate behavior.
Types of Attitudes
- Symbolic Attitudes: Formed by long-standing values internalized early in life; often unresponsive to rational arguments and charged with emotional intensity.
- Instrumental Attitudes: Based on direct benefits or costs of the attitude object, focusing on its utility rather than relation to values.
Formation of Attitudes
- Attitudes can be formed through:
- Mere Exposure
- Classical Conditioning
- Rewards and Punishment
- Self Perception Theory, which posits behavior can often reveal underlying attitudes.
Functions of Attitudes
- Knowledge Function: Aids individuals in forming a stable view of the world.
- Ego-Defense Function: Acts as a defense mechanism to shield the self from inner conflict and unpleasant truths.
Attitude-Behavior Prediction
- Specific attitudes predict behavior more accurately than general attitudes.
- Factors affecting prediction include:
- Time
- Attitude Strength, influenced by information, personal involvement, and direct experience.
- Attitude Accessibility.
Attitude and Behavior Change
- Cognitive dissonance suggests that when attitudes and behaviors conflict, individuals may change attitudes to align with behavior.
- Discomfort arising from cognitive dissonance motivates behavior adjustments to reduce dissonance.
Persuasion and Attitude Change
- Persuasion involves altering another person's attitudes using arguments and strategic communication.
- Key characteristics affecting persuasive communication include:
- Speaker Attributes: Credibility (with a phenomenon known as the Sleeper Effect), attractiveness, and intent.
- Listener Attributes: Intelligence, need for social approval, self-esteem, audience size, and gender.
Prejudice and Stereotypes
- Prejudice refers to harmful attitudes formed through inaccurate generalizations about groups based on traits like skin color, religion, or age.
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Description
This quiz explores the concept of attitudes, including their definitions, components, and how they influence behavior. Test your knowledge on how beliefs, feelings, and actions interact to form attitudes towards people, objects, and events.