PSYC 2040 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4: Scientific Control, Leon Festinger, Cognitive Dissonance
Document Summary
Attitude functions: (1) knowledge function- aid in interpretation of new information and enable rapid responding to attitude-relevant information. See new information as more valid/convincing when it supports schemas; ignore information if it doesn"t support schemas: (2) definition of social groups function. Ex: kkk; facebook: (3) identity or self expression function, (4) self esteem function. Hold attitudes we believe are right and increases our self esteem: (5) ego defensive function- protection of self from unwanted/unflattering views, (6) impression motivation function. The attitude behavior link: relationships between attitudes and behavior are complicated, lapiere (1934) study traveled with a young chinese couple. Visited 251 restaurants, campsites, hotels only one refused service. Sent letters to those establishments asked if they would serve chinese people. Link between attitude and behavior is relatively weak. When do attitudes influence behavior: (1) aspects of the situation: When situational constraints are strong, attitudes are not influential. People can evolve completely different attitudes toward the same object in different situations.
