Social Influence: The Relationship Between Attitudes and Behavior

The article analyzes the complex relationship between declared attitudes and actual deeds based on the thoughts of David G. Myers. The author debunks the myth of automatism, pointing out that behavior is influenced not only by general attitude but primarily by intention, subjective norms, and choice architecture. The text explains why a discrepancy often exists between values and action and how situational factors modify our decisions. A key element is the analysis of the reverse process: the influence of action on the shaping of beliefs. This includes Leon Festinger's theory of cognitive dissonance, where rationalization serves to reduce internal tension, and Daryl Bem's self-perception theory, according to which we infer our own attitudes by observing our behavior.