PSYC 241 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Cognitive Dissonance, Leon Festinger, Implicit-Association Test
23 Jan 2013
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Document Summary
Attitude- a positive, negative or mixed reaction to a person, object or idea. Our attitudes can vary in strength along both positive and negative dimensions. Four possible reactions to attitude objects: positive attitude, dual attitudes (ambivalence, indifference, negative attitude. An example is when people feel both positive and negative attitudes at the same time. Forming positive and negative evaluations of people, places, objects and ideas happens like a reflex in most cases. People differ in the extent to which they react to stimuli in a positive or a negative way. People high in attitude tend to view daily activities in a judgemental way. Attitudes can help us judge whether something is good or bad, helpful or hurtful, and to be sought or left alone. Pre-existing attitudes towards people can make someone biased, close minded, and more resistant to change. Easiest way to measure an individuals" attitude towards something is to use a self-report measure.
