Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

This new handbook presents, synthesizes, and integrates the existing knowledge of methods, theories, and data in attitudes. The editors' goal is to promote an understanding of the broader principles underlying attitudes across several disciplines. Divided into three parts: one on definitions and methods; another on the relations of attitudes with beliefs, behavior, and affect; and a final one that integrates these relations into the broader areas of cognitive processes, communication and persuasion, social influence, and applications, the handbook also features an innovative chapter on implicit versus explicit attitudes. With contributions from the top specialists, this handbook features unique collaborations between researchers, some who have never before worked together. Every writer was encouraged to work from as unbiased a perspective as possible. A "must have" for researchers in the areas of social, political, health, clinical, counseling, and consumer psychology, marketing, and communication, the handbook will also serve as an excellent reference for advanced courses on attitudes in a variety of departments.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Part I Introduction and Measures
• Attitudes: Introduction and Scope
• The Measurement of Attitudes.
• Part II The Matrix of Attitude-Relevant Influences
• The Structure of Attitudes
• The Origins and Structure of Behavior: Conceptualizing Behavior in Attitude Research
• The Influence of Attitudes on Behavior
• The Influence of Behavior on Attitudes
• Belief Formation, Organization, and Change: Cognitive and Motivational Influences
• The Influence of Beliefs and Goals on Attitudes: Issues of Structure, Function and Dynamics
• The Influence of Attitudes on Beliefs: Formation and Change
• The Structure of Affect
• The Influence of Affect on Attitude.
• Part III Integrative Views on Attitudes
• Cognitive Processes in Attitude Formation and Change
• Implicit and Explicit Attitudes: Research, Challenges, and Theory
• Individual Differences in Attitude Change
• Communication and Attitude Change: Causes, Processes, and Effects
• Social Influence in Attitudes and Attitude Change
• Attitude Theory and Research: Intradisciplinary and Interdisciplinary Connections
• Attitude Research in the 21st Century: The Current State of Knowledge

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

This handbook is a very important contribution to the literature. The editors did a masterful job of delineating the key issues in the field of attitude research, and the contributors they selected do a remarkable job of summarizing more than 85 years of research. Given the importance of attitude research for the field of social psychology, this reviewer is surprised (and disturbed) that a handbook has been so long in coming. The most important contributions of this handbook are its thorough analysis of relevant literature; clear differentiation between attitudes, beliefs, behavior, and affect; integration of the literature that begins to converge on themes in attitude research; and thoughtful suggestions for future research that will guide the field for years to come. The authors admit that attitudes can be activated, created, and/or influenced by transient sources. The attitude literature will surely progress as researchers come to understand that attitudes can be more transient in nature than originally thought. The only negative is the dense writing, which makes the book less accessible to inexperienced readers. ^BSumming Up: Essential. Upper-division undergraduates and above. R. E. Osborne Texas State University--San Marcos