Unit 4 - Lesson 2
AP Psychology Lesson: Attitude Formation and Change
Unit: Social Psychology and Personality | Lesson: 2 of 6 | Topic: Attitude Formation and Change
AP Exam Weighting: 15%–25% of exam score
Instructions: Complete this lesson during class by filling in the blanks and answering questions. All information needed is provided or will be researched in class. This lesson prepares you for the AP Psychology exam by exploring how attitudes shape and change behavior. Use the provided spaces to write your answers clearly, focusing on applying concepts critically.
Warm-Up
Purpose: Get you thinking about how attitudes influence behavior.
Questions:
- Why might you develop a positive attitude toward a new hobby?
- How could a friend’s opinion change your view on a topic?
Your Answers: Write a short response (1–2 sentences) for each question.
Key Concepts
Instructions: Read the information below and answer the questions to learn core AP concepts. For definitions, write them in your own words based on the content or look up a different definition if directed by your teacher (e.g., via apa.org or Google Scholar).
Content: Attitudes are evaluations (positive or negative) of people, objects, or ideas, influencing behavior. The cognitive dissonance theory suggests discomfort from conflicting attitudes and behaviors drives change (e.g., quitting smoking after valuing health). Persuasion changes attitudes through central route (logical arguments) or peripheral route (emotions, cues). Example: A student adopts a positive attitude toward recycling after a campaign (peripheral route). Social influence, like peer pressure, shapes attitudes (e.g., adopting a friend’s music taste). The elaboration likelihood model explains when people process persuasion deeply or superficially. Attitudes affect behaviors like voting or consumer choices. Cultural and emotional factors influence attitude formation.
- Define attitudes in your own words: _______________________________
- Define cognitive dissonance in your own words: _______________________________
- Define persuasion in your own words: _______________________________
- Explain how the central route of persuasion influences a behavior, using a specific example:
- Explain how social influence shapes attitudes, using a different example:
- How does cognitive dissonance motivate behavior change?
- Why might the peripheral route be effective in changing attitudes?
- How could cultural factors shape attitude formation in a community?
Guided Activity
Instructions: Work in pairs to complete the two tasks below. Write your answers and be prepared to share one key point from each task with the class.
Task 1: Scenario Analysis: Scenario: A student starts recycling after feeling guilty for littering. Analyze how cognitive dissonance and the peripheral route of persuasion contribute to this behavior. For example, consider how discomfort or external cues influence their actions.
Your Response for Task 1: Explain the role of each concept in the behavior.
Class Share for Task 1: Note one point you’ll share.
Task 2: Case Application: Imagine a teenager adopts their friends’ negative attitude toward a school rule. Apply the concepts of social influence and the central route of persuasion to explain their attitude change. For example, evaluate how peer pressure or logical arguments affect their views.
Your Response for Task 2: Apply the concepts to explain the attitude change.
Class Share for Task 2: Note one point you’ll share.
Class Assignment: Refer to the assignment file for this lesson
Instructions: Complete the tasks below to deepen your understanding of attitude formation and change.
Study Summary 1: A 2017 study found that cognitive dissonance led students to change their study habits after failing a test, aligning behavior with academic goals.
Question 1: How does this study demonstrate the role of cognitive dissonance in behavior change, and what might moderate its effects?
Study Summary 2: A 2019 study showed that celebrity endorsements (peripheral route) increased positive attitudes toward a product more than factual ads (central route) in teenagers.
Question 2: Evaluate how this study illustrates the effectiveness of persuasion routes, and suggest one limitation of its findings.
AP Exam Connection: This practices analyzing and evaluating research, a key skill for FRQs.
AP Exam Practice
Instructions: Answer the question below. We’ll review answers as a class to learn exam strategies.
Free-Response Question (FRQ):
Explain how cognitive dissonance, social influence, and the elaboration likelihood model interact to influence a specific behavior (e.g., attitude change, decision-making, or social behavior). Provide one example for each factor (cognitive dissonance, social influence, elaboration likelihood model) and analyze how they interact to shape the behavior.
Closure
Instructions: Write a brief summary (2–3 sentences) of two key ideas you learned today about how attitudes influence and change behavior.
Extended Practice
Instructions: Complete the tasks below based on today’s lesson to reinforce AP skills.
- Review your answers from this lesson.
- Write a detailed paragraph (5–7 sentences) applying today’s topic to a real-life behavior (e.g., how attitudes affect your choices in school or social media). Include references to cognitive dissonance, social influence, and persuasion, and explain their interaction.
- Find a short article or study on attitude formation or change (e.g., via apa.org) and write 2–3 sentences summarizing its relevance to today’s lesson. Cite the source (e.g., website or article title).