Self-perception theory proposes that people infer their own attitudes and feelings by observing their behavior and its circumstances, much as an outside observer would. It offered a non-motivational alternative to dissonance explanations of why attitudes change after people act against their prior views.
- Entry typeRelated entry
- FromCognitive Dissonance Theory (model)
- Category of its source unitTheories & Explanatory Models
- DomainPersuasion & Argument
What these mean
Editorial orientation · Entry type
Related entry
Related entries name an idea, effect or practice that belongs to a model or tool of the series. They are not models or tools themselves and are not counted as such; each one leads to the model or tool it comes from, and to its Executive Insight Brief.
Editorial orientation · Category
Theories & Explanatory Models
Explains how or why a communication process works by relating mechanisms, conditions or variables. Its value is an account that can guide inquiry into what produces an outcome, rather than a name for the outcome alone.