Social influences affect the individual on several different levels.  Not only do they impact the way we make sense of the world and our role in it, but they also greatly impact our individual attitudes in several ways.  Understanding how these events play a role in shaping individual attitudes is vital to gaining insight into how we think critically about incoming information, and understanding the impact on attitudes that may lead to related social psychological topics like the self-concept, bias, developing prejudice, promoting helping behavior, etc.  Research has found that our true behavior is shown in our actions when we think no one is looking Our Christian belief system echoes this idea, in that it promotes moral action and attitudes toward our fellow men, despite the social rewards that may come.  

• Watch the video titled  Cognitive Dissonance by Bo Bennett

  Read the article titled  Race, Violence, and Illusory Correlations Race, Violence, and Illusory Correlations - Alternative Formats by Ira Hyman

• Write a 1.5-page double spaced response addressing the following questions:
  • Describe and define the term “illusory correlation.” Give an example of a time that you made an illusory correlation and how it affected your own attitude
  • Describe and define cognitive dissonance theory. Give an example of a time you experienced cognitive dissonance and how it affected your own attitude.

Support your work with scholarly academic resources, textbooks, or other sources provided.  Use of APA format is required.