Final answer:
The Yale attitude change approach and related theories in social psychology suggest that deliberate communication can alter attitudes and behaviors. Cognitive dissonance and the Thomas theorem further explain how internal and subjective perceptions impact behavioral change.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theory that states that statements have the power to change minds and behaviors is rooted in the research conducted by Carl Hovland and his colleagues, forming the Yale attitude change approach. This approach highlights how the source of a communication, its content, and the characteristics of the audience interact to influence the degree of persuasive power. Persuasion is a key aspect here, aiming to alter attitudes through specific types of communication.
Cognitive dissonance is another related concept in psychology, where people change their attitudes, behaviors, or beliefs to reduce the discomfort of holding conflicting thoughts. Furthermore, the Thomas theorem suggests that individuals' actions are based on their subjective perception of reality, which implies that labels or statements can indeed alter one's behavior if they are accepted as real.
These concepts are linked to the larger fields of social psychology and communication studies, illustrating how persuasive messages consciously designed can change attitudes and, therefore, behaviors.