Final answer:
Attitudes involve evaluations of a person, idea, or object and can change due to internal factors like cognitive dissonance and external persuasion methods. Social influences, such as the desire for group conformity or obedience to authority, also affect attitudes and behavior.
Step-by-step explanation:
Attitudes are our evaluations toward a person, idea, or object, encompassing affective (feelings), behavioral (the effect on behavior), and cognitive (belief and knowledge) components. They can be positive or negative and are subject to change through both internal mechanisms, such as cognitive dissonance, and external influences, including persuasion and social influence.
Changing attitudes or behaviors often involves a commitment to alter one's thinking and actions. The motivation to reduce cognitive dissonance can lead to changing our attitudes, behaviors, or beliefs to make them consistent. Persuasion is an essential process in effecting attitude change, which can occur via the central route, using facts and information, or the peripheral route, which relies on positive associations and cues like beauty and fame.
Normative social influence can drive conformity to group norms, while obedience may result from the desire to please authority figures or avoid negative outcomes. In contrast, the foot-in-the-door technique suggests a person may agree to a small request before complying with a larger one, illustrating the principle of consistency.