PSYB10H3 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Bennington College, Elaboration Likelihood Model, Terror Management Theory
Document Summary
Attitudes guide behavior- a valid assumption, although attitudes guide behavior less powerfully than most people suspect. Researchers have, however, highlighted four other functions of attitudes. Attitudes serve what has been called a utilitarian function: utilitarian function: an attitudinal function that serves to alert people to rewarding objects and situations they should approach and costly or punishing objects or situations they should avoid. When you become aware of an attitude you hold- ex: toward the smell of dinner- you are by definition aware of positive and negative information about the attitude object. These attitudes are often activated by our current goals and trigger actions that help us pursue our goals. When our attitudes are toward goal-relevant objects are positive, we are more likely to engage in goal-relevant behaviors (for example going to the library in order to get high marks on a psychology exam).
