The Science of Attitudes

This textbook is aimed primarily at advanced undergraduates and graduate students interested in how attitudes are formed and changed. It uniquely integrates classic and contemporary research to give a comprehensive and rounded view of the field from its inception to present-day theory, methodology, and controversies. It is also the first textbook on attitudes to devote entire chapters to work on implicit measurements, resistance to persuasion, and social neuroscience. The book provides a comprehensive and engaging text for upper-level students of social psychology and related fields with an interest in attitudes and attitude change, including marketing, advertising, and political science.

The Science of Attitudes is the first book to integrate classic and modern research in the field of attitudes at a scholarly level. Designed primarily for advanced undergraduates and graduate students, the presentation of research will also be useful for current scholars in all disciplines who are interested in how attitudes are formed and changed. The treatment of attitudes is both thorough and unique, taking a historical approach while simultaneously highlighting contemporary views and controversies. The book traces attitudes research from the inception of scientific study following World War II to the issues and methods of research that are prominent features of today’s research.

Researchers in the field of attitudes will be particularly interested in classic and modern research on the organization, structure, strength and function of attitudes. Researchers in the field of persuasion will be particularly interested in work on attitude change focusing on propositional and associative learning, metacognition and dynamic theories of dissonance, balance and reactance. The book is designed to present the integration of the properties of the attitude with the dynamic considerations of attitude change. The Science of Attitudes is also the first book on attitudes to devote entire chapters to work on implicit measurements, resistance to persuasion, and social neuroscience.