Psyc 154 Lecture 20 Attitude to Behavior Relationship

How do attitudes guide behavior?

1. Attitudes can guide behaviors directly, without much thought - attitudes focus attention to attitude-consistent information and behavior 2. Attitudes can guide behavior indirectly, through careful intentions - Theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Azjen) - Theory of planned behavior (Fishbeing & Azjen)

What are some factors that increase attitude accessibility?

1. Deliberately thinking about an attitude 2. Use attitude frequently 3. Make people "Self-Aware" = focus attention to internal beliefs/attitudes/values More likely to behave consistently with those attitudes

Describe the theory of reasoned action

Attitudes can have an indirect affect on behavior through intentions and planning of said behavior e.g. Attitude: Losing weight is good Intention: I want to lose weight Planning: Stop eating junk food Behavior: Actual weight loss

Describe the theory of planned behavior

Builds on the theory of reasoned action. Attitude still has an indirect effect on behavior through intentions. This theory also adds subjective norms and personal control as effects onto intentions. Subjective Norms: what other people in one's life feels about a certain behavior - e.g. "My family/friends think I should lose weight" Personal Control: beliefs whether or not you believe that you can perform a certain behavior e.g. "I CAN lose weight"

Describe Diener & Wallbom (1976)

Question: Does being "self-aware" increase attitude-behavior consistency? - Attitudes towards cheating and cheating behavior Method: - Participants worked on an anagram task - Participants were told that the task reflected their intelligence - Time limit for task - stop working when bell rings - 2 Conditions: 1. Self-aware = worked in front of a mirror 2. Control Group = no mirror RESULTS: Participants in the "self-aware" condition were more likely to act consistently with their cheating attitude (e.g. less likely to cheat); the control group found that regardless of their cheating attitude, 77% of participants cheated without a mirror, while only 7% of participants in the self-aware group cheated IMPLICATIONS: Being self-aware can increase the connection between one's attitudes and their behavior

Describe Corey (1937)

Question: does attitude towards cheating predict actual cheating behavior (in a classroom) - Used his own students as the participants - Gave students an attitude survey at the beginning of the semester (how do you feel about academic cheating) RESULTS: Found no relationship between attitude toward cheating and cheating behavior IMPLICATIONS: Though there should be a connection between attitude and behavior, evidence suggests that this link does not exist

Do attitude guide behavior?

There is a weak relationship between attitudes and behavior

When do attitudes guide behavior?

When attitudes are accessible; attitudes MUST be accessible