Attitudes and Attitude Change

Gerd Bohner, Michaela Wänke

Psychology Press, 2002 - Mathematics - 295 pages

Attitudes - cognitive representations of our evaluation of ourselves, other people, things, actions, events, ideas - and attitude change have been a central concern in social psychology since the discipline began. People can - and do - have attitudes on an infinite range of things but what are attitudes, how do we form them and how can they be modified?

This book provides the student with a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the basic issues in the psychological study of attitudes. Drawing on research from Europe and the USA it presents up-to-date coverage of the key issues that will be encountered in this area, including attitude formation and change, functions of attitudes, attitude measurement, attitudes as temporary constructs, persuasion processes and prediction of behaviour from attitudes.

Contents

• What is an attitude and why is it important?: 3
• The measurement of attitudes: 19
• Structure and strength: 49
• Where do attitudes come from?: 69
• Attitudes as temporary constructions: 89
• I From effortless judgments to complex: 117
• II The dualprocessing approach: 135
• Behaviour influences on attitudes: 165
• Consequences of attitudes: 187
• Attitude influences on behaviour: 219
• Postscript: 245
• Author index: 285

Bibliographic information

• Title: Attitudes and Attitude Change; Social Psychology - Psychology Press, ISSN 1368-4574; Social Psychology: a Modular Course Series, ISSN 1368-4574; Social psychology, ISSN 1368-4574
• Authors: Gerd Bohner, Michaela Wänke
• Edition: illustrated, reprint
• Publisher: Psychology Press, 2002
• ISBN: 0863777791, 9780863777790
• Length: 295 pages
• Subjects: Mathematics / Group Theory; Medical / Mental Health; Psychology / General; Psychology / Social Psychology; Self-Help / Motivational & Inspirational; Social Science / General