Attitudes and Attitude Change

This new edition of Attitudes and Attitude Change provides a comprehensive and accessible introduction to basic issues in the psychological study of attitudes. Drawing on the latest research it provides coverage of all the key issues in this area, including attitude formation and change, the functions of attitudes, attitude measurement, attitudes as temporary constructs, persuasion processes, and prediction of behaviour from attitudes. The new edition has been thoroughly revised and updated to take account of the most recent research in the field. It will be essential reading for students and researchers in social psychology.

Attitudes have been a central topic in social psychology from its early beginnings. But what exactly are attitudes, where do they come from, and how can they be modified? The overall aim of Attitudes and Attitude Change is to provide students with a comprehensive and accessible introduction to these basic issues in the psychological study of attitudes.

In four parts, readers learn about how attitudes can be measured, how attitudes are shaped in the course of life, how they are changed by other people, and finally, how attitudes in turn affect our thoughts and behavior. This completely revised and updated second edition covers many recent developments and reports cutting-edge research while also addressing the classic findings and theories that advanced the field. In addition to integrating the newly emerged topics of implicit attitudes and recent models regarding the coexistence of explicit and implicit attitudes, this edition also adds chapters on social influence and resistance to persuasion.

This comprehensive and user-friendly book carefully balances theoretical underpinnings and empirical findings with applied examples to enable readers to use the insights of attitude research for practical applications. Critical discussions also instigate readers to develop their own thinking on key topics.