PSY 331 1st EditionExam # 2 Study Guide Lectures: 11-20- Practice questions at the end of study guide with answers- We see what we wanto Remember the self: We seek positive self-view …we’ll work for it… …can we go too far?...o Positive illusion: seeing self in (objectively) overly positive light- Mental health: classic definitiono Positive self-regardo Ability to care for otherso Ability to do productive worko Accurate view of reality - Accurate view of reality o Is this reasonable?o Are you crazy?- Illusion of well beingo Taylor & brown (1988) o 3 types of positive illusiono Unrealistically positive views of selfo Unrealistic optimismo Overlapo Link to well being- Unrealistically positive views of selfo We are all better than average Our friends too!o Give selves credit for success, but not blame for failure Example: fail test..AKA?- Self- serving bias Our friends too!o Rate ourselves higher than observers do. Study: group interaction task, personality ratings.- Unrealistic optimismo We tend to be optimistic We believe present is better than past We expect failure to be even better Particularly for us vs. others. o Expect what we want Not what is objectively likely- Exaggerated perception of control o Gambling Example: you vs. others rolls the dice Example: langer lottery study- Illusion of unique invulnerabilityo Bad things wont happen to me…o …because I control my outcomes Example: driving- Links to well beingo Control…? Invulnerability illusion- Physical health?o Not so good!o Think car insuranceo Critically ill patients Focus on controlling symptoms, life tasks = good adjustment Focus on impossible cure = not so goodo Positive views / optimism?... task persistence & effort trying in face of adversity more likely to push envelope - ultimately, better outcomes (on whole) physical health- If optimism makes stress seem less stressful…- …can have health benefits- Example: chronically seeing events as manageable vs. not.- Implicationso See what we expect Time and effort saver Maintain inaccurate beliefs- Act on them - Self-fulfilling prophecyo See what we want Positive illusion can be good But only in moderation- Example: seeing more control where some exists, not none- Excessive illusions Hallucinations, psychoses etc…- What is an attitude?o What is an attitudeo Very difficult question Disagreement in the fieldo Technical definition (Eagly & Chaiken 1998)o Psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity with some degree of favor or disfavor.o Psychological tendency??- Easy definitiono Positive or negative evaluation of an objecto We have attitudes about all kinds of things Ourselves, other people, abstract concepts, brickso Why are attitudes interesting? Big reason: influence behavior- Effects of attitude on behavioro Conventional wisdom: attitudes cause behavior 30s: only very weak relationship 50s-60s: panic!! Jump ship More research = clearer picture- 5 factors for strong attitude behavior relationshipo Not exhaustiveo 1. Measure attitude towards behavior Distinction: attitude toward… Behavior target Behavior self- Example: political candidate Early attitude research : atts toward targets- Weak predictor of behavior- Reason: only 1 of many factors into att. toward behavior.o Strong predictoro 2. Get an accurate measurement Only measure expressed attitude Goes through self-presentational filter- Don’t look bad…o …by revealing objectionable views we hold.o Example: secret bigot Sigall et al (1971) bogous pipeline- Bogous pipeline Fool people into expressing true attitude Procedure:- Strapped in to equipment- “indicates +/- attitude”- Sample questions ( not controversial)o Machine is right!o From forgotten questionnaire- Whites asked about blackso Manipulation: bogus pipeline or paper & pencilo Results: Paper & pencil: rated blacks more positively Relative to avg. American at time Bogous pipeline: rated more negativelyo Implications: Someone might seem friendly (attitude) …but stab you in the back (behavior)… “true” attitudes can be hard to come by- But are better predicator of behavioro 3. Measure specific attitude Distinction: specific vs. general attitude- Example: cats Fishbein & Ajzen literature review- 26 of 27 studies: general attitude did not predict specific behavior - All 26: specific attitude did o 4. Make attitude accessible Accessibility likelihood that the info will become active in cognitive processes.- Increase accessibility = Increased chance attitude will come to mind Snyder & Swann:- Affirmative action questionnaire- 2 weeks later: mock jurors in sex-discrim case- Manipulation: “organize your thoughts” or nothing Results: decision followed original attitudes More closely when they were accessible.o 5. Strong attitude Better predictors of behavior Resistant to change Stable over time Many, many influences on attitude strength- Intra-attitudinal aspects (e.g. consistent experience)o Example: cats again Inter-attitudinal aspects (e.g., linked to values)- Example: jury duty Personal experience is big - Persuasion definitiono Process of consciously attempting to change attitudes through transmission of a message. Specific kind of attitude change Focus of social psych Example: horrible blizzard ( not persuasion) Example: of persuasion?- Adso Important? 2011 U.S expenditures on ads : > $171 billion- Top company: Proctor & gamble , $2.95 billion- Classic Approacho Message– learning approach Yale group: Hovland at al. starting in 40s.o Interested in what is persuasive Source variables (who): e.g., expertise Message variables (what): e.g. , humor Medium/channel variables ( by what means): e.g., speech speed Target variables ( to whoom): e.g., mood o Recent advances Classic approach: variable findings- List of factors w/ conditions Recent approach- Shift from what is persuasiveo …to process underlying how it works- Elaboratio- ELMo Petty & Cacioppo, 1980so Framework for integrating listo Elaboration: process of assessing central merits of a message Argument qualityo Continuum of elaboration likelihood (EL) High El : scrutinize arguments, arrive at well- reasoned &
View Full Document