AP Psychology Flashcards: Attitude Formation and Attitude Change
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 11 cards to help you master important concepts.
Define "belief perseverance."
Belief perseverance is the tendency for a belief to persist even when it is faced with contradictory evidence.
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Define "belief perseverance."
Belief perseverance is the tendency for a belief to persist even when it is faced with contradictory evidence.
A person who believes all librarians are quiet continues to hold this belief even after meeting several who are very outgoing. What is this an example of?
This is an example of belief perseverance, where a belief (a stereotype in this case) persists despite being presented with contradictory evidence.
How does belief perseverance inhibit attitude change?
Belief perseverance makes attitude change difficult because it is the tendency for an individual's original belief to persist, even when they are presented with new, contradictory evidence.
How do stereotypes and implicit attitudes contribute to prejudice?
Stereotypes (generalized concepts about groups) and implicit attitudes (unacknowledged biases) provide the cognitive foundation for prejudice and subsequent discrimination.
What is the relationship between implicit attitudes and discrimination?
Implicit attitudes, being unacknowledged biases, can lead to discriminatory behaviors without the individual being consciously aware of the prejudice motivating their actions.
What are "implicit attitudes?"
Implicit attitudes are attitudes that are held but unacknowledged, often reflecting underlying biases like the just-world phenomenon or in-group bias.
Define "stereotype."
A stereotype is a generalized concept about a group of people, which often serves as the basis for prejudice and discrimination.
An individual who strongly supports recycling feels uneasy after throwing a plastic bottle in the trash. What psychological concept describes this feeling?
This individual is experiencing cognitive dissonance, the mental discomfort that arises when one's actions (throwing away a bottle) conflict with their attitudes (supporting recycling).
To reduce the discomfort of buying an expensive, non-essential item, a person starts to focus only on its positive features. This change in attitude is a response to what?
This attitude change is a response to cognitive dissonance, as the person is altering their attitude to reduce the mental conflict caused by their action (the purchase).
What is "cognitive dissonance?"
Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort experienced when a person's actions and attitudes conflict, which motivates a change in either their actions or their attitudes.
How does cognitive dissonance motivate attitude change?
The mental discomfort from cognitive dissonance, caused by a conflict between actions and attitudes, often motivates an individual to change their attitude to align with their actions.