Question

Describe the relationship between attitudes and behavior in counterattitudinal behavior, self-justification, and self-fulfilling prophecy.

Short answer

In counterattitudinal behavior, attitudes and behaviors may not align due to external influences. For self-justification, attitudes may change to align with behaviors as a means of cognitive dissonance reduction. In the case of a self-fulfilling prophecy, attitudes in the form of expectations can directly influence behaviors, turning the expectations into reality.

Step-by-step solution

Breakdown of Counterattitudinal Behavior

Counterattitudinal behavior refers to behavior that is inconsistent with one's own attitudes. Describing the relationship between attitudes and behavior in this case involves understanding that such disparities can occur when external forces, such as social pressure or financial incentives, lead individuals to act contrary to their beliefs.

Analysis of Self-Justification

Self-justification is the process by which individuals reconcile their behaviors and attitudes. When a person acts in a way that is inconsistent with their existing attitudes, they may change their attitudes to match their behaviors. This process is known as cognitive dissonance reduction. Hence, the relationship between attitudes and behavior here is that changes in behavior can lead to alterations in attitudes.

Elucidation of Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A self-fulfilling prophecy occurs when a person’s expectations influence their behavior in ways that make those expectations come true. Here, attitudes, in the form of expectations or beliefs, directly affect the personal behavior, and ultimately the outcomes. Thus, the relationship between attitudes and behavior in this situation is a direct one, where one can shape the other.

Key concepts

Counterattitudinal Behavior

Counterattitudinal behavior is when someone acts in a way that doesn’t match up with their personal beliefs or attitudes. Imagine being asked to publicly support a cause you don't believe in due to peer pressure or a promised reward. It's like wearing a costume that hides what you genuinely feel. When external pressures push us to act against our beliefs, this creates a gap between our attitudes and our behavior.

Some key points to consider about counterattitudinal behavior are:

• External forces like social pressure can lead to this behavior.
• It highlights the difference between what we truly believe and how we act.
• Understanding this gap helps in analyzing conflicts between personal values and social demands.

Self-Justification

Self-justification is like the mind's way of settling an argument within itself. When our actions don’t align with our beliefs, we might feel uncomfortable. This discomfort is called cognitive dissonance. To ease this feeling, people often change their attitudes to better align with what they’ve done. It’s like convincing yourself that the choice you made was right all along, even if it initially didn’t match your beliefs.

Some essential insights on self-justification:

• It's a strategy to resolve the tension between conflicting attitudes and actions.
• This process is driven by the need to feel right or consistent.
• Through self-justification, past behaviors can reshape current attitudes.

Self-Fulfilling Prophecy

A self-fulfilling prophecy is a fascinating cycle where expectations lead to behaviors that cause those expectations to become reality. It's like predicting something will happen and then unintentionally acting in ways that ensure it does. If a teacher believes a student will succeed, they might give more support, which increases the student’s performance, thus fulfilling the belief.

Here’s what you should remember about self-fulfilling prophecies:

• Personal expectations influence how we behave towards others and ourselves.
• This cycle shows how attitudes can directly lead to specific outcomes.
• Understanding this concept helps in realizing the power of positive expectations.