Changing Attitudes

Changing Attitudes

There are countless ways in which vested others (e.g., corporations, politicians, industries) try to change our attitudes toward a variety of issues or products. For example, advertising agencies attempt to persuade consumers to purchase certain products through the use of large, expensive advertisements. Politicians often try to persuade citizens that changing their attitude toward a political issue is in the citizen’s best interest. Changing an attitude toward a particular issue can affect a person’s behavior. However, changing attitudes is not easy. The process of attitude change is complicated and can occur through multiple direct or indirect routes. Consider someone who needs to change his or her attitude toward a health-related issue in order to improve his or her own health. How challenging might this task be, and what are some implications if they do not change their attitude?

For this Discussion, select one of the following three social problems: (1) smoking, (2) obesity, or (3) global warming. Consider the population to whom you might want to address this social problem. Think about how you might change the attitudes toward these issues in the population you selected.

With these thoughts in mind:

Post by Day 2 a brief description of the social problem you selected. Select a population in which you might want to address this social problem and explain why. Then justify one approach you might use to change current attitudes within this population. Finally, explain one challenge you might face in attempting to change the attitudes of this population and one way you might address that challenge.

Please provide more detail in your proposed attitude change strategy. What theory are you working from? What research and evidence is there to support the implementation of your approach? Be sure to integrate the learning resources for the week and articles related to social psychology and attitude change.

READINGS

Course Text: Hogg, M. A., & Cooper, J. M. (Eds.). (2007). The Sage handbook of social psychology(concise student ed.). Los Angeles, CA: Sage.

Chapter 6, “Attitudes: Foundations, Functions, and Consequences”

Chapter 9, “Attitude Change”

Article: Albarracin, D., & Handley, I. M. (2011). The time for doing is not the time for change: Effects of general action and inaction goals on attitude retrieval and attitude change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100(6), 983–998.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Optional Resources

Article: Castelli, L., & Carraro, L. (2011). Ideology is related to basic cognitive processes involved in attitude formation. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 47(5), 1013–1016.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Article: Irimia, C. (2011). Empathy as a source of attitude change. Contemporary Readings in Law & Social Justice, 2(2), 319–324.
Retrieved from the Walden Library databases.

Website: Social Psychology Network. (n.d.). Retrieved November 30, 2011, from http://www.socialpsychology.org/