The reasons why people do not always act in accord with their attitudes has been the focus of much social psychological research, as have the factors that account for why people change their attitudes and are persuaded by such influences as the media. There is strong support for the view that attitude-behavior consistency and persuasion cannot be well understood without reference to the wider social context in which we live. Although attitudes are held by individuals, they are social products to the extent that they are influenced by social norms and the expectations of others. This book brings together an international group of researchers discussing private and public selves and their interaction through attitudes and behavior. The effects of the social context on attitude-behavior relations and persuasion is the central theme of this book, which--in its combination of theoretical exposition, critique, and empirical research--should be of interest to both basic and applied social psychologists.
Contents: M.A. Hogg, D.J. Terry, Social Contextual Influences on Attitude-Behavior Correspondence, Attitude Change, and Persuasion. Part I:Attitude-Behavior Relations. A.S.R. Manstead, The Role of Moral Norm in the Attitude-Behavior Relation. P. Sparks, Subjective Expected Utility-Based Attitude-Behavior Models: The Utility of Self-Identity. D. Trafimow, A Theory of Attitudes, Subjective Norms, and Private Versus Collective Self-Concepts. D.J. Terry, M.A. Hogg, K.M. White, Attitude-Behavior Relations: Social Identity and Group Membership. D.T. Miller, B. Monin, D.A. Prentice, Pluralistic Ignorance and Inconsistency Between Private Attitudes and Public Behaviors. Y. Kashima, V. Lewis, Where Does the Behavior Come From in Attitude-Behavior Relations? Toward a Connectionist Model of Behavior Generation. Part II:Attitude Change and Persuasion. D.M. Mackie, S. Queller, The Impact of Group Membership on Persuasion: Revisiting "Who Says What to Whom With What Effect?" D. van Knippenberg, Group Norms, Prototypicality, and Persuasion. M.A. Fleming, R.E. Petty, Identity and Persuasion: An Elaboration Likelihood Approach. A. Pratkanis, Altercasting as an Influence Tactic. J. Cooper, J. Stone, Cognitive Dissonance and the Social Group. J.M. Falomir, G. Mugny, J.A. Pérez, Social Influence and Identity Conflict. J.M. Duck, M.A. Hogg, D.J. Terry, The Perceived Impact of Persuasive Messages on "Us" and "Them."