Theory, research and application about attitudes. Attitudes change. Attitudes conceptualization, organization and dynamics and attitudes-behavior relationships. Psychological processes about social influence and persuasion, attitude resistance. Fields of application and intervention.
- Maio, G. & Haddock, G. (2010). The psychology of attitudes and attitude change. London: Sage.
- Cavazza, N. (2007). La persuasione. Bologna: Il Mulino.
- Brown, R. (2013). Psicologia del pregiudizio. Bologna: Il Mulino (capp. I, II, III, VII).
- It is suggested the revision of the basic concepts of matter using a recent manual of Social Psychology.
Information and updates will be available on the course website (e-learning)
Learning Objectives
Knowledge and understanding: knowledge and understanding of the concept, structure and dynamics of attitudes, measurement of attitudes, attitude-behavior relationships, psychological processes of social influence with particular regard to changing attitudes and resistance to change.
Applying knowledge and understanding: knowledge of the application fields of the psychology of attitudes; development of theoretical and methodological skills to analyze the processes of formation and change of attitudes; skills into using effective reference schemas for the analysis of change interventions; understand the ethical implications of the research focusing on knowledge and changing attitudes.
Making judgments: ability to integrate previously acquired knowledge with the specific contents of the course, to analyze to autonomously processes of organization and changing attitudes, be able to think about the ethical aspects of their future profession.
Communication skills: ability to communicate acquired knowledge clearly and make interesting observations about the course contents, using specific terms adequately.
Learning skills: learning ability necessary for analyzing critically and autonomously research material related to the course contents.
Prerequisites
Basic knowledge in psychology (at least: Social Psychology, General Psychology, Developmental Psychology).
Teaching Methods
Knowledge and understanding: lessons, thematic seminar and the use of audiovisual aids and bibliographic material.
Applying knowledge and understanding: practice in classroom, group work.
Making judgments: group work and discussions.
Communication skills: oral presentation of the papers, group discussion.
Learning skills: a participatory approach to learning will be emphasized.
Further information
Assisted teaching
- Seminar, small group activities.
- Topic: Prejudice.
- Objectives: Develop knowledge of theoretical aspects and methods of research on prejudice.
- Evaluation: Presentation of group work and individual relationships. The evaluation will be considered for the final grade.
Type of Assessment
Written and oral exam.
Written: multiple-choice questions and open or filling questions.
Oral: admission subject to passing the written test.
The final vote will take into account - together with the written and oral test - the evaluation of classroom activities (for attending students).
Grade (18/30 as a pass mark).
Knowledge and comprehension skills will be evaluated through written and oral exams.
Applying knowledge and understanding will be assessed during group work and they will be evaluated through written and oral exams.
Making judgments will be assessed through practice in classroom and oral exam.
Communication skills will be evaluated through written (open or filling questions) and oral exams
Learning skills will be evaluated through written and oral exams
Course program
This course deals with theory, research and application in the area of attitudes and attitude change. Attitudes are an integral construct in many areas of contemporary research – prejudice, self-perception, interpersonal relations, health, marketing and consumer behavior, jury decision making, politics, etc. This class will review: what attitudes are and how do they relate to other psychological constructs (e.g., personality, emotion, mood, stereotypes, and beliefs); how can attitudes be measured; the process through which attitudes can be changed; ways in which attitudes guide thinking and behavior, and other issues that are relevant to attitude theory. The first part reviews the history of the attitude concept, theories of attitude formation and organization, methods of attitude measurement; the second part examines the dynamics of attitudes and the attitude-behavior relation; and the third part deals with communication and persuasion and current issues in the literature (e.g., “implicit” attitudes). Topics:
- Historical overview, definition of attitude;
- Attitude measurement: Standard attitude scaling; alternative techniques; reliability and validity of attitude measures;
- Attitude formation: Behavioral and Cognitive Theories;
- Attitude structure and function: Dimensionality of attitudes; attitude strength;
- Attitudes and behavior: moderating variables; the theory of reasoned action / planned behavior; reasoned vs. automatic processes; past behavior and habit; cognitive dissonance and alternatives;
- Attitude change: group dynamics/social influence and persuasion; historical perspective; the Hovland Paradigm; reception and yielding; Self-persuasion theories; the elaboration likelihood model; the heuristic-systematic model; persistence of attitudes over time and resistance of attitudes to counter-persuasion.