SOCPSY 1Z03 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Observational Learning, Classical Conditioning, Cognitive Dissonance
9 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Attitude: a predisposition to respond to a particular object in a generally favourable or. Attitudes influence the way each person perceives and responds to the world. They influence where we focus attention and they influence our behaviour. Components of attitude: (1) cognition, (2) evaluation and (3) behavioural predisposition. All three components have the same object, so they form a consistent, whole attitude. Attitudes can be formed through reinforcement (instrumental conditioning), through associations of stimuli and responses (classical conditioning) or by observing (observational learning). Heuristic function: provide a simple and efficient means of evaluating objects. Attitudes define the self and maintain self-worth. The structure of attitudes is such that each attitude is interconnected with a slew of other attitudes that all support each other. When asking someone why they hold one attitude, they will typically refer to the other related attitudes. Vertical - some attitudes are more fundamental than others.
