A S L 3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 17: Proprioception, Social Cognition, Classical Conditioning
Document Summary
Preferences (person"s evaluations of various aspects of their social world) regarding attitude objects. Can be strong (last a long time, hard to change and can be accessed immediately without having to think about why something is good or bad) or weak. Typically conscious; measured by asking people directly, use of attitude scales and observing behaviour. Good to study when people are unable or unwilling to report certain attitudes. Related construct values: enduring, evaluative beliefs about general aspects of life that go beyond specific objects and situations. Interrelated, widely shared set of beliefs about social and political systems are and should be: shape attitudes to gender, race, danger, tidiness. Knowledge function: attitudes function as schemas to help us make sense of information in a complex social world, help focus on the important characteristics of an attitude object; deal with in quickly and effectively. Utilitarian function: attitudes help us obtain rewards and avoid punishment.
