Do attitudes predict behavior

Do attitudes predict behavior?

Not really!!! People’s expressed attitudes often don’t predict their behaviors.

E.g., Student attitudes toward cheating, doesn’t mean students won’t cheat.

Self-described racial attitudes don’t predict behaviors in actual situations. 

Read More

ABC’s of Attitudes

ABC’s of Attitudes

Affect (emotion)

Behavior (actions)

Cognition (thoughts) 

Read More

What is an attitude?

What is an attitude?

An evaluative reaction toward something or someone exhibited in one’s beliefs, feelings, or intended behavior.

May be positive or negative

E.g., FSU students are bright 

Read More

Sigall Study (1971)

Sigall Study (1971)

Ss held a locked wheel that, if unlocked, could turn a pointer to the left or the right.

Left-disagreement; right-agreement

Electrodes were attached to their arms to look authentic. 

The fake machine supposedly measured muscular responses indicating their tendency to turn the wheel left or right. 

Read More

Observed Behavior

When the attitude is specifically relevant to the observed behavior

Attitudes about “fitness” poorly predict specific exercise & dietary practices. 

Whether people swim is more likely to depend on their opinions about the costs & benefits of swimming.  

Read More

The stronger an attitude is the more likely it will predict behavior

The stronger an attitude is the more likely it will predict behavior.

If prompted to “think” about our attitudes will we?

Yes!!

Self-conscious folks--more aware of their true attitudes and likely to follow them.

Read More

Attitudes increase in potency if:

Attitudes increase in potency if:

We think about what our attitudes are before acting.

We become self-conscious about our attitudes.

Our attitudes are stronger if gained through experience.

Read More

Why do some fall for the con?

Why do some fall for the con?

Low-ball technique- get person to agree to a request, then up the ante.

Most people once they agree to something will still comply when asked for more.

E.g. Cr salesperson tactic.

Read More

Racial Attitudes

Racial Attitudes

Positive acts toward another person breeds liking for that person.

This works with racial attitudes as well.

Decreased discriminatory behaviors, leads to improved racial attitudes.

Read More