Question 1

What is the difference between implicit and explicit attitudes and what exactly is the relationship between these two types of attitudes?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between implicit and...

Question 2

Attitudes can serve a number of different functions. Briefly define the 4 different functions of attitudes. Next, give an example of an attitude and explain how the same attitude can serve both mastery and connectedness needs.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Attitudes can serve a number of different...

Question 3

What is the difference between the cognitive information people know about an attitude object, the affective information people know about an attitude object, and the behavioral information people have about an attitude object? Illustrate these differences by relating each to the decision to vote for a particular political candidate.

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the difference between the cognitive...

Question 4

Why do our attitudes tend to remain one-sided?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why do our attitudes tend to remain...

Question 5

Your school is thinking about raising tuition and are trying to convince the students that this increase would benefit them in the long run. One of the methods they are using to convince the students is to mail each student a pamphlet with information on all of the benefits. As a student, you are very against the idea of a tuition increase. What are three ways that you could resist being persuaded? Next, imagine that included in the pamphlet is the date for an open meeting with the school board

Accepted Answer

The answer of Your school is thinking about raising tuition...

Question 6

People have attitudes about just about everything.

Accepted Answer

Attitudes are a way of thinking or feeling about someone or something, and since people have thoughts and feelings, they have attitudes about just about everything.

Question 7

Exposing individuals to multiple persuasive messages that are weak increases the likelihood that they will endorse the opposite position.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the "boomerang effect" and has been demonstrated in several studies. When people are exposed to weak and inconsistent messages, it can create uncertainty and skepticism, leading them to reject the messages and potentially endorse the opposite position.

Question 8

People who are motivated to pay attention to a message will often be more persuaded by an expert source than by a strong message.

Accepted Answer

People who are motivated to pay attention to a message are generally more persuaded by the strength and quality of the arguments (strong message) than by the expertise of the source.

Question 9

Children below the age of 6 do not understand that television commercials are designed to persuade them (i.e., their parents) to buy something.

Accepted Answer

According to research on child development, children below the age of 6 do not have the cognitive ability to understand that television commercials are persuasive in nature and are designed to influence their behavior or their parents' behavior.

Question 10

People who are in good moods are more likely to be persuaded by superficial cues.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that people in positive moods tend to rely more on heuristics and cognitive shortcuts when processing information, and are therefore more susceptible to persuasion based on superficial cues rather than logical arguments.

Question 11

One way to guarantee unbiased attitudes is to engage in a lot of deep thinking.

Accepted Answer

Deep thinking does not guarantee unbiased attitudes as biases can be deeply ingrained and may require intentional efforts to overcome. Other strategies such as seeking out diverse perspectives, considering multiple sources of information, and examining one's own assumptions and prejudices are also important for cultivating unbiased attitudes.

Question 12

When it comes to persuasion, being forewarned is to be forearmed. People who know a persuasion attempt is coming are less likely to change their attitudes later.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. When people are forewarned that someone will try to persuade them, they are able to activate their defenses and are less likely to change their attitudes later on.

Question 13

People think that others are more easily persuaded than they personally are.

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is known as the third-person effect, where individuals believe that others are more vulnerable to media messages or persuasion than they are themselves. It is a common cognitive bias observed in social psychology research.

Question 14

Through practice, people can learn to be more resistant to persuasion.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that through practice and exposure to different types of persuasive messages, individuals can become more resistant to persuasion. This is known as inoculation theory, which suggests that people can build up immunity to certain persuasive appeals by being exposed to weaker forms of them first.

Question 15

Janna likes SUVs because they are big enough to hold all of her outdoor equipment. This summary evaluation that Janna has made of SUVs is known as a(n) _________.

Accepted Answer

Janna's evaluation of SUVs as being suitable for holding her outdoor equipment is an example of an attitude, which can be defined as a positive or negative evaluative reaction toward a particular object or concept.

Question 16

Viewers pay more attention to commercials played during television programs that contain a lot of sex and violence.

Accepted Answer

Research suggests that viewers may pay less attention to commercials during programs with high levels of sex and violence, as these elements can be distracting and reduce the effectiveness of the advertisements.

Question 17

People who process information systematically are unaffected by heuristic cues.

Accepted Answer

People who process information systematically can still be influenced by heuristic cues, as systematic processing involves deep analysis but does not completely eliminate the impact of simple, mental shortcuts or biases that heuristic cues represent.

Question 18

Researchers can detect people's attitudes about topics such as alcohol abuse and premarital sex by measuring the muscle activity of one's face.

Accepted Answer

This is true. Facial electromyography (EMG) can be used to identify muscle activity related to emotions and attitudes. Studies have shown that certain muscle movements in the face can be indicative of positive or negative attitudes towards various topics, including alcohol abuse and premarital sex.

Question 19

People's implicit attitudes and their explicit attitudes are typically the same.

Accepted Answer

While many people may believe that their implicit and explicit attitudes align, research has shown that they often do not. Implicit attitudes are automatic and unconscious, while explicit attitudes are consciously held beliefs and values. People may not even be aware of their implicit biases or attitudes, which can influence their behaviors and decisions without them realizing it.

Question 20

Politically conservative individuals are less likely to support the use of energy-efficient technology.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that political conservatism is associated with a lower likelihood of supporting energy-efficient technology adoption and policies. Conservative individuals may prioritize economic development and individual freedom over environmental concerns.

Quiz 7: Attitudes and Attitude Change