PSYC 215 Chapter Notes - Chapter 8: Twin, Subsequence, Subliminal Stimuli

• School: McGill University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 215
• Professor: John Lydon

Document Summary

Utilitarian function: attitudinal function serving to alert people to rewarding objects and situations they should approach and costly or punishing objects or situations they should avoid. If you have a goal, your attitude towards the means of attaining that goal become more positive. Pairing a neutral object with some positive stimuli boosts our positive reaction to it. Ego-defensive function: attitudinal function that enables people to maintain cherished beliefs about themselves and their world by protecting them from contradictory info. Fear can make us cling to beliefs; like fear of death can make us more patriotic. Conservative who cling to traditional ways are also more fearful. Value-expressive function: attitudinal function whereby attitudes help people express their most cherished values usually in groups in which these values can be supported and reinforced. We join groups that express our attitudes. Reference groups: groups whose opinions matter to a person and that affect the person"s opinions and beliefs.