Psychological Foundations of Attitudes

Psychological Foundations of Attitudes presents various approaches and theories about attitudes. The book opens with a chapter on the development of attitude theory from 1930 to 1950. This is followed by separate chapters on the principles of the attitude-reinforcer-discriminative system; a systematic test of a learning theory analysis of interpersonal attraction; a "spread of effect" in attitude formation; Hullian learning theory; and possible origins of learned attitudinal cognitions. Subsequent chapters deal with mechanisms through which attitudes can function as both independent and dependent variables in the attitude-behavior link; and the problem of how people go about applying a summary label to their attitudes and the reciprocal effects that rating has on the content of attitude. The final chapters discuss a commodity theory that relates selective social communication to value formation; the freedoms there are in regard to attitudes; attitude change occasioned by actions which are discrepant from one's previously existing attitudes or values; and the conflict-theory approach to attitude change.

List of ContributorsForewordPrefacePart I: Introduction 1. The Emergence of Attitude Theory: 1930-1950 Contributors to Attitude Theory Development Concluding Comments ReferencesPart II: Learning-Behavior Theory Contributions to Attitude Theory 2. Social Behaviorism and Human Motivation: Principles of the Attitude-Reinforcer-Discriminative System Integrated Learning Principles Integrated Learning Principles and Human Motivation Theory Implications, Applications, and Extensions References 3. A Learning Theory Approach to Interpersonal Attitudes The Learning of Positive Interpersonal Attitudes Consequences of Liking Summary References 4. A "Spread of Effect" in Attitude Formation Rationale and Hypotheses Experimental Procedure Experimental Data General Conclusions References 5. An Extension of Hullian Learning Theory to Persuasive Communication Introduction Instrumental Learning of Attitudes Classical Conditioning of Attitudes Summary References 6. Cognitive Learning, Cognitive Response to Persuasion, and Attitude Change Cognitive Responses to Persuasion Studies of Cognitive Learning and Attitude Change Conclusion - Cognitive Process, Cognitive Learning, and Attitude Change References 7. Personality and Attitude Change: an Information-Processing Theory The Nature of a Systems Theory Two Experiments Designed to Test the Systems Theory References 8. Attitudes as Self-Descriptions: Another Look at the Attitude-Behavior Link Attitudes as Descriptions of Internal States Attitudes as Descriptions of Behavior Behavior as a Function of Attitudes ReferencesPart III: Cognitive Integration Theory Contributions to Attitude Theory 9. Psychological Perspective and Attitude Change A Perspective Model for Attitudes Tests of the Perspective Model Discussion References 10. Implications of Commodity Theory for Value Change Illustrative Problem Areas Commodity Theory Published Evidence Summary of Unpublished Evidence Review and Evaluation References 11. Attitude Change from Threat to Attitudinal Freedom What Freedoms are There with Regard to Attitudes? What are the Threats to Attitudinal Freedom? Relevant Evidence References 12. Attitude Change through Discrepant Action: a Functional Analysis A Functional Analysis of Discrepant Action and Attitude Change A Comparison of Dissonance and Functional Theory Interpretations A Study of the Effects of Moral and Hedonic Dilemmas on Issue and Task Attitudes Moral and Hedonic Dilemmas in a PD Game References 13. A Conflict-Theory Approach to Attitude Change and Decision Making Stages in the Decision Making Process Some Implications of the Analysis of States Sources of Decisional Conflict: the Balance Sheet Model Commitment and Postdecisional Conflict The Continuity of Pre- and Postdecisional Conflicts Alternative Modes of Conflict Resolution ReferencesPart IV: Conclusion 14. On Defining Attitude and Attitude Theory Attitude Definition A Framework for the Theoretical Study of Attitudes Contributions to Attitude Theory Summary Conclusion ReferencesAuthor IndexSubject Index