COGNITION, AFFECT, AND BEHAVIOR IN THE PREDICTION OF GROUP ATTITUDES

Based on a tripartite perspective on attitudes, research was designed to identify the cognitions (stereotypes and values), affects, and beha vior associated with three target groups (African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans) and to examine the contribution of each to the prediction of group attitudes. Cognitions associated with the tar get groups extended previous findings and indicated that current perce ptions focus more on the group's relationship to the rest of society t han on characteristics of group members. Less positive affect was asso ciated with all three target groups, especially with African Americans , with whom fear was also associated. Affect and behavior were the str ongest predictors of group attitudes; cognition made a minor contribut ion for each group. Implications for conceptualization and change in g roup attitudes (i.e., reducing prejudice) are discussed.