Final answer:
The strength of one's intentions as specified by the theory of planned behavior is the best predictor of behavior. The actor-observer bias suggests we have more information about influences on our own behavior. Cognitive dissonance and motivated reasoning help to explain the relationship between our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to the theory of planned behavior, the best predictor of how you behave is the strength of your intentions to behave in a certain way. This theory emphasizes that one's intention to engage in a behavior is the strongest indicator of whether the behavior will actually be carried out. Intentions are influenced by three factors: attitudes toward the behavior, the subjective norms related to the behavior, and the perceived behavioral control over the behavior.
In the context of the actor-observer bias, we generally have more information about influences on our own behavior. This bias describes our tendency to attribute our own actions to situational factors while attributing the behaviors of others to their dispositions or personality traits.
Moving on to cognitive dissonance, this occurs when an individual experiences a conflict between their attitudes, beliefs, or behaviors, prompting a change to reduce the discomfort of this dissonance. Such changes in attitude or belief can be a result of internal decision-making or external persuasion, like advertising.
Motivated reasoning is a cognitive process where people's desires and interests influence their beliefs and decisions. It explains why human behavior can be generally predicted, as certain patterns and motivations are common, yet specific cases may vary due to individual differences and complex situational variables.