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Attitudes in SocietiesAttitudes in Societies

andand

Appearances Appearances

VsVs

RealityReality

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AttitudesAttitudes

Evaluations of various aspects of the Evaluations of various aspects of the social worldsocial world

The extent to which we hold The extent to which we hold positive/negative reactions to issues, positive/negative reactions to issues, ideas, persons, etc.ideas, persons, etc.

More enduring than passing More enduring than passing preferencespreferences

Highly resistant to changeHighly resistant to change Long history of psychological study Long history of psychological study

e.g., Allport, 1924e.g., Allport, 1924

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Why are attitudes Why are attitudes important?important?

Attitudes strongly influence two major Attitudes strongly influence two major aspects of our lives:aspects of our lives: Social thought – the way we think about Social thought – the way we think about

social informationsocial information Social behaviour – e.g., protesting, voting, Social behaviour – e.g., protesting, voting,

interpersonal relationsinterpersonal relations Attitudes are pervasive:Attitudes are pervasive:

We hold attitudes about virtually all topicsWe hold attitudes about virtually all topics Range from major to minor issuesRange from major to minor issues

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We have attitudes about…We have attitudes about…

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If you were the chair of an EFL If you were the chair of an EFL department in Mendoza, which department in Mendoza, which EFL teacher would you hire? EFL teacher would you hire?

Choice 1Choice 1 Choice 2 Choice 2 Choice 3Choice 3

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Attitude formationAttitude formation Most attitudes become solidified during Most attitudes become solidified during

teen years and early adulthoodteen years and early adulthood Social learning: Social learning: Acquiring new Acquiring new

information, forms of behaviour, and information, forms of behaviour, and attitudesattitudes from other persons from other persons

We are influenced by the people around We are influenced by the people around us: us: friends, family, co-workers, etc.friends, family, co-workers, etc.

Types of social learning:Types of social learning: Classical conditioningClassical conditioning Instrumental conditioningInstrumental conditioning Observational learningObservational learning

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Social comparisonSocial comparison

Festinger (1954)Festinger (1954) We compare ourselves to others in order We compare ourselves to others in order

to determine whether our view of social to determine whether our view of social reality is correct or incorrectreality is correct or incorrect

If our attitudes match those of others, then If our attitudes match those of others, then we must be correct (desirable)we must be correct (desirable)

Thus, we often change our attitudes to Thus, we often change our attitudes to conform with those of other people (e.g., conform with those of other people (e.g., friends)friends)

Occurs even if you had no previous Occurs even if you had no previous experience with the topicexperience with the topic

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Regarding EFL teachers: Regarding EFL teachers:

Vivian Cook (1999) claims that in the Vivian Cook (1999) claims that in the past it was often taken for granted past it was often taken for granted that native speakers were the only that native speakers were the only appropriate models for language appropriate models for language learners. However, Jennifer Jenkins learners. However, Jennifer Jenkins (2002: 85) claims that the EIL (English (2002: 85) claims that the EIL (English as an International Language) target as an International Language) target community is not the British or community is not the British or American community but an American community but an international one; therefore she international one; therefore she contends it is irrelevant for the contends it is irrelevant for the learners to reach native competence. learners to reach native competence.

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Cultural factors: The study of Cultural factors: The study of ValuesValues

Cultural differences in attitudes are Cultural differences in attitudes are often examined by focusing on often examined by focusing on cultural cultural valuesvalues: : principles of life that include moral principles of life that include moral

beliefs and our standards of conductbeliefs and our standards of conduct Differ from attitudes in that they are Differ from attitudes in that they are

broader, more abstractbroader, more abstract Like attitudes, values convey what is Like attitudes, values convey what is

important in our livesimportant in our lives

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ValuesValues

Ten types (Schwartz, 1992):- Power - Universalism- Achievement - Benevolence- Hedonism - Tradition- Stimulation - Conformity- Self-direction - Security E.g., value of security relates to

various attitudes (e.g., war, gun control, expectations of privacy, etc.)

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The stability of valuesThe stability of values

There are typically no sex differences There are typically no sex differences in valuesin values

The same values are found across The same values are found across culturescultures e.g., Schwartz’s ten valuese.g., Schwartz’s ten values

People’s value preferences tend to People’s value preferences tend to remain constant over timeremain constant over time

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Values, behaviour and Values, behaviour and cultureculture

Values predict attitudes, which predict Values predict attitudes, which predict behaviourbehaviour

Like attitudes, values can be culturally Like attitudes, values can be culturally transmitted via social learning and transmitted via social learning and shaped by social comparison at shaped by social comparison at home/school/by friendshome/school/by friends

E.g. – Western cultures value E.g. – Western cultures value individualism more than Eastern individualism more than Eastern culturescultures

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Regarding EFL teachers: Regarding EFL teachers:

H. Douglas Brown (2000) claims H. Douglas Brown (2000) claims that whenever we teach a that whenever we teach a language, we also teach a language, we also teach a system of cultural customs, system of cultural customs, values, and ways of thinking, values, and ways of thinking, feeling, and acting.” feeling, and acting.” Does that mean we disseminate Does that mean we disseminate imperialist ideas when we teach imperialist ideas when we teach EFL? EFL?

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Genetic factors: Are attitudes Genetic factors: Are attitudes inherited?inherited?

We typically think of physical characteristics We typically think of physical characteristics such as height, eye color, etc. as inheritedsuch as height, eye color, etc. as inherited

However, thought occurs within the brain, However, thought occurs within the brain, and brain structure is genetically influencedand brain structure is genetically influenced

Studies have demonstrated that there is in Studies have demonstrated that there is in fact a small genetic component in attitudesfact a small genetic component in attitudes

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Personality factorsPersonality factors Personality traits tend to have a strong genetic Personality traits tend to have a strong genetic

componentcomponent How does personality relate to attitudes and values?How does personality relate to attitudes and values? Roccas et al. (2002):Roccas et al. (2002):

Personality trait Correlates with…

Agreeableness Benevolence, Tradition

ExtraversionAchievement, Stimulation

ConscientiousnessAchievement, Conformity

Openness to Experience

Self-direction, Universalism

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Other personality traits related to Other personality traits related to attitudes:attitudes:

Right-wing authoritarianismRight-wing authoritarianism Deference to established authorityDeference to established authority Think in terms of in-groups and out-Think in terms of in-groups and out-

groupsgroups Negative attitudes towards out-groupsNegative attitudes towards out-groups Support traditional valuesSupport traditional values

Social dominance orientationSocial dominance orientation Desires superiority, dominance for their Desires superiority, dominance for their

in-groupin-group Negative attitudes towards out-groupsNegative attitudes towards out-groups

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Summary: Attitude Summary: Attitude formationformation

Attitudes are evaluations of various Attitudes are evaluations of various aspects of the social world, which aspects of the social world, which influence thought and behaviorinfluence thought and behavior

Attitudes may be formed via classical Attitudes may be formed via classical conditioning, instrumental conditioning, conditioning, instrumental conditioning, observational learning, or social observational learning, or social comparisoncomparison

Once formed, attitudes tend to be highly Once formed, attitudes tend to be highly resistant to changeresistant to change

Cultural, genetic, and personality factors Cultural, genetic, and personality factors are all highly relevant to attitudesare all highly relevant to attitudes

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Primary GroupPrimary Group Small group characterized by intimate, face-Small group characterized by intimate, face-

to-face association and cooperationto-face association and cooperation Secondary GroupSecondary Group

Formal, impersonal group in which there is Formal, impersonal group in which there is little social intimacy or mutual understandinglittle social intimacy or mutual understanding

Elements of Social StructureElements of Social Structure

• Groups: Any number of people with similar norms, values, and expectations who interact with each other on a regular basis

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Elements of Social StructureElements of Social Structure

In-Groups and Out-GroupsIn-Groups and Out-Groups– In-Group

•Any group or category to which people feel they belong

– Out-Group•Group or category to which people feel

they do not belong

– Reference Groups•Any group that individuals use as a

standard in evaluating themselves and their own behavior

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Out-groupsOut-groups

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Does physical appearance Does physical appearance matter?matter?

I am a strong believer that appearance matters I am a strong believer that appearance matters very much because realistically that’s what draws very much because realistically that’s what draws you to or repels you from a person when you first you to or repels you from a person when you first encounter them. encounter them.

AA lot of us try to say “do not to judge a book by lot of us try to say “do not to judge a book by its cover" but we all do, it's not necessarily being its cover" but we all do, it's not necessarily being shallow, it's just our nature. However, some shallow, it's just our nature. However, some people take it to the extreme and just use making people take it to the extreme and just use making fun of people as a crutch to hide their own fun of people as a crutch to hide their own insecuritiesinsecurities

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I do believe appearance matters. I do believe appearance matters. Appearance is the first thing people see Appearance is the first thing people see when they meet you or see you in public. when they meet you or see you in public. With the society we live in it is valued With the society we live in it is valued HIGHLY. I know this for a fact I have been HIGHLY. I know this for a fact I have been made fun of and picked on about my made fun of and picked on about my appearance. appearance.

If you are not thin or gorgeous forget If you are not thin or gorgeous forget about getting a job or getting that second about getting a job or getting that second look. That’s why so many young girls you look. That’s why so many young girls you see today with eating disorders or getting see today with eating disorders or getting plastic surgery. The world has really made plastic surgery. The world has really made appearance seem it’s important...appearance seem it’s important...

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I don’t think appearance matters, but I don’t think appearance matters, but unfortunately others think it does. I don’t mean, unfortunately others think it does. I don’t mean, you go to a job interview wearing pyjama bottoms you go to a job interview wearing pyjama bottoms and a tee. Of course first impressions are and a tee. Of course first impressions are important. If you don’t want to wear what’s "in important. If you don’t want to wear what’s "in style" then don’t. Don’t bring yourself down style" then don’t. Don’t bring yourself down because everyone teases you or says stuff behind because everyone teases you or says stuff behind your back. It’s what's inside that counts! Live life your back. It’s what's inside that counts! Live life the way you want to, it is yours.the way you want to, it is yours.

Sadly, appearance does matter in life. Every day Sadly, appearance does matter in life. Every day people are judged by what they look like. First people are judged by what they look like. First impressions. If you wear some old dirty clothes impressions. If you wear some old dirty clothes people, obviously, are going to look at you people, obviously, are going to look at you differently. If you wear something nicer people differently. If you wear something nicer people are more likely to come up to you. Looks are the are more likely to come up to you. Looks are the first impression in life in everything from friends first impression in life in everything from friends to dating or getting a job. to dating or getting a job.

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II think appearance does matter when think appearance does matter when making first impressions, like at an making first impressions, like at an important meeting or in situations that can important meeting or in situations that can forward your career forward your career

I feel clothes are an expression of who you I feel clothes are an expression of who you are as a person. Clothes shouldn't make the are as a person. Clothes shouldn't make the person, the person should make the clothes. person, the person should make the clothes. People in general need to understand that People in general need to understand that because you dress in a certain way it doesn't because you dress in a certain way it doesn't mean your personality is the same on the mean your personality is the same on the inside. Clothes shouldn't matter, your inside. Clothes shouldn't matter, your personality should. The media always want personality should. The media always want us to be what they want us to be.us to be what they want us to be.

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Your dress announces a statement about Your dress announces a statement about yourself to the world. One of them is yourself to the world. One of them is whether you care or not about yourself. whether you care or not about yourself. Analyze the way you are dressed now:Analyze the way you are dressed now: -What will people think about you from the way -What will people think about you from the way

you are dressing now?you are dressing now? As a professional educator you are about to be, you As a professional educator you are about to be, you must know that the way you dress for your classes, must know that the way you dress for your classes, has a real impact on your students.has a real impact on your students.If you are appropriately dressed, students will If you are appropriately dressed, students will comment when you look nice, and if something is comment when you look nice, and if something is out of place, they will tell you because they know out of place, they will tell you because they know you are a person who cares about yourself. But if you are a person who cares about yourself. But if you consistently come to school inappropriately you consistently come to school inappropriately dressed, they will not say a word because they will dressed, they will not say a word because they will suppose that if you do not care about yourself, they suppose that if you do not care about yourself, they do not need to care about you.do not need to care about you.

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Can you think of other four reasons why we Can you think of other four reasons why we should dress appropriately for teaching?should dress appropriately for teaching?

In fact, the teaching profession has a In fact, the teaching profession has a difficult time gaining respect and difficult time gaining respect and credibility and one way of doing so is credibility and one way of doing so is through appropriate dressing.through appropriate dressing.

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Reflect about the following statements and Reflect about the following statements and decide if they are TRUE or FALSE for you. decide if they are TRUE or FALSE for you. Justify your answers.Justify your answers. Running shoes are only for jogging or mall-walking……..Running shoes are only for jogging or mall-walking…….. Neat, cleanly tailored career clothes establish Neat, cleanly tailored career clothes establish

authority……….authority………. Anything in blue denim should be worn only on Anything in blue denim should be worn only on

Saturdays…………Saturdays………… Trendy clothes do not establish authority and should be Trendy clothes do not establish authority and should be

left to students………….left to students…………. Soft muted tones are recommended for secondary Soft muted tones are recommended for secondary

school………..school……….. Excessive jewelry is distracting…………..Excessive jewelry is distracting………….. Bright colors are enjoyed by elementary school Bright colors are enjoyed by elementary school

students………..students……….. Career clothes prepare students for a future in a Career clothes prepare students for a future in a

competitive world…….competitive world……. Clean clothes convey good hygiene………..Clean clothes convey good hygiene………..

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However, we cannot dress in the same way However, we cannot dress in the same way in all the teaching environments. Think in all the teaching environments. Think about the following situations and how you about the following situations and how you would dress in each of them.would dress in each of them. You are a high school teacher working in a You are a high school teacher working in a

public inner city school.public inner city school. You are a kindergarten teacher working in You are a kindergarten teacher working in

a private school.a private school. You work in an English language institute. You work in an English language institute. You are an in-company teacher working You are an in-company teacher working

for an important firm.for an important firm. You are a university teacher.You are a university teacher.

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When you get dressed for teaching , When you get dressed for teaching , decide which is the message you decide which is the message you want to convey with your want to convey with your appearance appearance