Ch 4 - Behavior and Attitudes

1
Ch 4 - Behavior and Attitudes

• Part 2 Feb 9

2
Stanford Prison Experiment(continued)

• By day 2, guards were clearly into their roles.
  Sadistic, cruel behaviors.
• Prisoners had become passive, some had to leave
  the experiment due to distress.
• Not secluded - family and friends visited,
  chaplain, lawyers.
• No one complained about treatment.

3
Stanford Prison Experiment

• Experiment called off by Day 6.
• How/Why?
• This experiment wouldnt take place today
• Why?
• What are Zimbardos views of this?

4
Lessons from the SPE

• The power of the situation is huge.
• Roles determined behavior to a large extent.
• Remember - NO differences in students before the
  experiment (random assignment).
• Behaviors --gt Attitudes??
• Applications?

5
Overview of Attitude Theories

• Cognitive dissonance theory justify our actions
  to reduce our discomfort
• Self-presentation theory express attitudes that
  make us seem consistent.
• Self-perception theory when uncertain about our
  beliefs, we look at our behavior for clues.
• Self-verification theory we have a need to seek
  confirmation of our self-concept, whether it is
  pos or neg.

6
Cognitive Dissonance

• 1 powerful determinant of our behavior is the
  need to preserve a positive self-image.
• When we do something to cause us discomfort
  because it goes against our usual self-image,
  cognitive dissonance results.
• 3 ways to reduce dissonance

7
Festingers Cog Diss research

• Boring experiment then asked to lie to another
  subject say it was interesting.
• Then, measured attitudes
• Who was more likely to be positive those paid
  1 or 20?
• Insufficient justification how does it work?

8
Cognitive Dissonance (cont)

• Use only enough incentive to get someone to
  internalize the attitude.
• Internal justification
• Go overboard ? they need the incentive to do the
  behavior.
• External justification
• What is our tendency after deciding betw 2
  equally attractive options?

9
Application to child behavior/values

• Does threat of harsh punishment work?
• Example of bullying in children
• How can we get children to internalize values of
  not bullying younger siblings?
• Aronson study of mild/harsh punishment for
  playing w/forbidden toys
• Did self-persuasion have a long-lasting effect?

10
Self-Presentation

• Impression management causes change in attitudes.
• Adjust our attitudes to be consistent with
  behaviors
• But.sometimes express our new attitudes to those
  who havent seen our behaviors.

11
Self-Perception Theory

• When unsure of our attitudes, we look at our
  behavior as if we are observers.
• Rate cartoons as funnier if holding pen between
  teeth using smiling muscles (facial feedback
  hypothesis).
• Also suggest unnecessary rewards have hidden
  cost.
• Overjustification effect- what is it?

12
Self-verification theory

• The need to seek confirmation of our self-concept
  whether it is pos or negative
• Can sometimes conflict w/need to maintain
  favorable view of oneself
• If negative self-concept, what is the dilemma?
• When do negative self-concept people feel
  dissonance?
• Summary of theories?