PSY 223 1nd Edition Lecture 9 Outline of Last Lecture I Attributions A Fritz Heider theory B Jones Correspondent Inference Theory C Harold Kelley s Covariation Theory II Fundamental Attribution Error III IV V VI Actor Observer Differences Motivational Biases and Influences on Attributions Self esteem and Influences on Attributions Culture and Attribution Bias Outline of Current Lecture VII Inferring dispositions and forming impressions continued D Effects on impressions VIII Attitudes IX Measurement of Attitudes X Sources of Attitudes XI Predicting Behavior from Attitudes XII Predicting Attitudes from Behavior Current Lecture From Inferring Dispositions to Forming Impressions How do we combine all the personal attributions judgments Summation or averaging Summation add 2 good qualities and 2 moderately good qualities Average only focus on 2 good qualities so the moderately good qualities don t dilute research found people more likely to follow averaging but averaging is weighted Anderson s Information Integration Theory found this Effects on Impressions how we weigh qualities These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor s lecture GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes not as a substitute Perceiver characteristics we all focus on different things and have different standards of what is important ex Some focus on how attractive someone is others how smart someone is o o Mood can also affect how we perceive others better mood more positive impressions Also embodied cognition can have an effect when holding a coffee feel better about people because it is warm Priming effects what we are exposed to frequency or recently used trait word to influence our perceptions Target characteristics people tend to agree about certain things i e extroversion The impact of trait information on our impressions of others also depends on 2 contextual factors 1 Implicit personality theories theories about what types of personalities go together a We have more positive impressions when include warm in list than when cold listed 2 The Primary Effect information had a greater impact when presented earlier rather than later in sequences a Why Because we tend to tune out form our impressions after the first couple of words In addition information presented first changes meaning of later words Once people form impressions of others difficult to change People engage in confirmation bias tendency to seek interpret and create information that verifies existing beliefs Self fulfilling prophecy example rumor a bank was going to fail but it was actually doing fine Once people heard this rumor though they went to the bank and took their money out causing the bank to indeed fail 3 stages 1 Perceiver forms impression of target person 2 Perceiver behaves in a way consistent with impression 3 Target person adjusts behavior to correspond with perceivers actions Attitudes Attitudes don t predict behaviors as much as people think Behaviors predict attitudes more than people think Attitude evaluation of a person place object event or behavior o o Can be positive negative or both Can be explicit or implicit Negative attitudes have more impact than positive attitudes Attitudes vary on the following dimensions intensity or strength and accessibility ABCS of Attitude Affective emotions or feelings toward attitude Behavioral actions that result from attitude Cognitive knowledge about attitudes Measurements of Attitude 1 Self reports a Survey on single global item i e do you like watching tv i Tend to be unreliable because can have more elements than just that object b Attitude scales i Example is it okay to have sex before marriage 2 Covert measures a Look at observable behaviors i Internal or psychological reactions use facial electromyography speed of response on computer good for implicit attitudes ii Implicit attitudes can be measured by Implicit Association Test Sources of Attitudes Our genes Mere exposure effects familiarity Classical conditioning Operant conditioning use rewards punishments Our behaviors Current needs Out reference groups Predicting Behavior from Attitudes Attitudes may be poor predictors of behaviors o o LaPiere study in 1930s white psychologist went around with Asian couple when discrimination against Asians to restaurants to see how many restaurants would serve them All did but one LaPiere then wrote letters to the restaurants they visited to see if they would serve Asians most responded no o Shows that attitudes do not always follow our behaviors 1960s research meta analysis concluded no evidence that attitudes reliability predict behaviors Why poor predictors some of the time Attitudes may conflict with other influences on behavior o Ex Social norms situational factors o Theory of Planned Behaviors a second influence on behavior are subjective norms that also influence behaviors General attitudes may not match specific behavior o Attitudes better predict behavior when specific attitudes toward a specific behavior are measured can t be vague Some behaviors are so automatic we don t even realize we are doing them Predicting Attitudes from Behaviors Attitudes may be poor predictors of behaviors but behaviors are good predictors of attitudes Attitudes may change in order to be consistent with behaviors