Attitudes

Question 1

What is an attitude?

Answer 1

Idea about ourselves, others, objects and experiences learnt through experiences, and can cause a person to respond in a + or - way.

Idea about something through experiences effecting person in + or - way

Question 2

What is the tri-component model?

Answer 2

An explanation of attitudes, in terms of three related concepts.

Proposes that any attitude has three related components

Affective, behavioural, cognitive

Question 3

Tri-component model:

Affective

Answer 3

• Emotional reactions or feelings
• Based on judgement resulting in pos, neg or neutral experiences.

e.g I love pizza or hate salami

Question 4

Tri-component model:

Behavioural

Answer 4

• Attitude expressed through actions

e.g avoiding or protesting against something you don’t like

Question 5

Tri-component model:

Cognitive

Answer 5

Beliefs held on basis of experiences and facts, even if false.

e.g pineapple does not belong on pizza because it is sweet.

Question 6

Tri-component model:

Consistency between components

Answer 6

• All three components must be present before attitude exists
• in many cases, consistent.

e.g feeling good about school, working hard, believe grades important.

Question 7

Tri-component model:

Inconsistency between components

Answer 7

• sometimes have cog and affective, not behavioural
• Many times, two conosistent and one is not
• Often behavioural component inconsistent

Question 8

How does behaviour link to attitudes?

Answer 8

• Play signigicant role in influencing or directing behaviour
• Attitudes may not match behaviour

Question 9

Cognitive dissonance

Answer 9

Unpleasant feelings felt when aware of inconsistencies between beliefs and behaviour.

Question 10

Cognitive dissonance impact on behaviour

Answer 10

• Unpleasant enough so people avoid it
• Changing behaviour to suit dissonant cognition
• contribute to onset of addictions
• add new cognitions to outweigh dissonance or rationalise/justify behaviour.