Attitudes towards people with AIDS and avoidance behavior: Automatic and reflective bases of behavior

• Published in: Journal of experimental social psychology Vol. 40; no. 4; pp. 543 - 550
• Main Authors: Neumann, Roland, Hülsenbeck, Katharina, Seibt, Beate
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: San Diego, CA Elsevier Inc 01.07.2004; Elsevier; Academic Press
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; AIDS; Attitudes; Behavior; Behavior. Attitude; Biological and medical sciences; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Social psychology; Infection; Human; Social behavior; Attitude; Viral disease; AIDS; Avoidance; Social cognition
• ISSN: 0022-1031; 1096-0465
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jesp.2003.10.006

We tested the assumption that implicit attitude measures are related to automatic behavior, while explicit attitude measures are related to reflective behavioral intentions. In our study, attitudes towards persons with AIDS were assessed with both the Implicit Association Test (IAT) and an explicit attitude measure. Behavioral intentions were measured through a questionnaire. Automatic approach and avoidance predispositions were operationalized as the speed with which a computer mouse was either pulled towards (approach) or pushed away from the body (avoidance). Consistent with our expectations, the IAT was related to the automatic approach and avoidance behaviors, while the explicit attitude measure was related to behavioral intentions. These findings support the idea that automatic and reflective processes exert independent effects on behavior.