This document discusses the nature and functions of attitudes. It defines attitudes as predispositions to behave in a certain way towards something based on evaluation. Attitudes are tendencies that are learned, either directly or vicariously. The functions of attitudes include helping people make sense of experiences, gain rewards and avoid punishments, relate to social groups, rationalize behavior, and express personal values.

1. UNIT FOUR The Nature of Attitudes

2. ACCEPTANCE Where Persuasion Comes Into Play

3. MORE ON ATTITUDES

4. Attitudes A predisposition to behave in a particular way in response to something

5. ATTITUDES ARE HYPOTHETICAL

6. ATTITUDES ARE TENDENCIES/ PREDISPOSITIONS

7. ATTITUDES ARE EVALUATIVE

8. OBJECTS OF ATTITUDES

9. ATTITUDES ARE LEARNED 1. Learned 2. Vicariously

10. FUNCTIONS OF ATTITUDES

11. SUMMARIZE BELIEFS 1. We may have several beliefs about an attitude object 2. An attitude provides a synthesis of those beliefs -- We may beliefs any number of things when describing a movie, but our attitude is an evaluation of the movie in general.

12. KNOWLEDGE 1. They make sense of our experiences 2. They help us explain our experiences -- Our “knowledge” of (attitude towards) the person who cut us off in traffic helps us explain why that person did so.

13. UTILITARIAN 1. They help us get reward and avoid punishments 2. Positive attitudes help us gain reward rather than punishment -- This is why we try to “think positive” when we are not looking forward to something.

14. Social- Adjustive 1. We are innately social creatures 2. Our attitudes help us relate to social groups -- We tend to conform our attitudes to fit those of groups which are important to us.

15. EGO DEFENSIVE 1. They shield us from something we don’t want to face 2. Attitudes help us rationalize our behavior -- We may feel guilt about something we did, but we use our attitudes to put a more positive spin on our behavior.

16. VALUE-EXPRESSIVE 1. They help us express our values. -- We may express a positive attitude for a movie because that movie projects values with which we agree.

17. ACTIVITY