Attitudes Influence Behavior and Behavior Influences Attitude

4 Ways We Reduce Cognitive Dissonance

1. Modify our cognitions 2. Trivialize 3. Add 4. Deny

Justification of effort

people do something they don't want to justify effort they put into it, such as going to med school after working so hard

Attitude to behavior process model

-An event triggers our attitude (something that will influence our perception of an object) -Then attitude + outside knowledge together determines behavior. -Ex. Tommy has attitude that junk food is unhealthy, because many of his relatives have diseases. So when he's at home he does not eat chips/soda/candy.

Prototype Willingness Model

-Behavior is a function of 6 things: past behavior, attitudes, subjective norms, our intentions, our willingness to engage in a specific type of behavior, prototypes/models - a lot of our behavior is carried out from prototyping/modeling

Role-Playing

-Everyone plays roles in life. Picture yourself in a new role. First few days are a bit fake - we're trying to follow social quota in that role. Trying to sound professional. But over time, what feels like acting starts to feel like you. -Changed attitude as a result of our behavior and carrying out that role. -Ex. Zimbardo's prison experiment

Elaboration Likelihood Model for Persuasion

-More cognitive approach - focuses on the why/how of persuasion. -2 ways info is processed: central (depends on quality of arguments by persuader), and peripheral (superficial/non-verbal persuasion cues, such as attractiveness/status of persuader).

4 theories that answer question how do our attitudes influence behavior

-Theory of planned behavior -Attitude to behavior process model -Prototype Willingness Model -Elaboration Likelihood Model for Persuasion

Theory of planned behavior

-We consider the implications of our intentions before we behave. -Intentions are based on 3 things - our attitudes towards a certain behavior (ex. I like studying), subjective norms (what we think others think about our behavior), and perceived behavioral control (how easy/hard we think it is to control our behavior)

Behavior Influences Attitudes Through

1. Foot in the door phenomenon 2. Role playing 3. Public Declarations 4. Justification of Effort

People are more likely to be honest when...

1. social influences are reduced 2. general patterns of behavior are observed versus a single one (principle of aggregation) 3. specific actions are considered 4. attitudes are made more powerful through self-reflection