Multivalent Structure

社会态度通常被描述为积极的、中立的或消极的。然而，人们在重要的社会话题上经常表现出矛盾的态度，这种态度既包含积极的情绪，也包含消极的情绪。例如，过去20年的研究表明，许多美国人对少数族裔和残疾人的态度是矛盾的。矛盾心理有助于解释为什么一个人有时会以一种有利或有益的方式对待被污名化的群体成员，而有时又以一种不利或有害的方式对待。本研究解决了态度矛盾心理研究中两个重要但尚未解决的问题。问题是目前还没有令人满意的方法来测量矛盾心理。因此，本研究的一部分重点是开发有效可靠的测量程序。新的程序将促进研究进展，并可应用于正在进行的关于重要社会问题的公众意见的记录和存档工作。第二个问题是，人们对矛盾态度的结构和功能所知相对较少。目前认为，矛盾心理是由基本价值观的冲突引起的，人们真正同时坚持积极和消极的情绪。然而，矛盾心理也可能反映了不发达的社会态度，或者它可能反映了刻意呈现当时最理想的社会形象的努力。本研究试图通过研究与矛盾态度的存储和检索相关的认知过程来区分不同的解释。这些研究将为人们为什么经常持有矛盾态度提供更深入的理解。最终，这项研究将为制定促进种族间和谐的干预措施提供理论基础，鼓励健康的生活方式，并动员国家努力消除残疾人经常面临的社会和身体障碍。

ABSTRACT Social attitudes are typically described as being either positive, neutral, or negative. However, people often express ambivalence on important social topics -- attitudes that contain a mixture of both positive and negative sentiments. For example, research over the past 20 years has shown that many Americans are ambivalent in their attitudes toward racial minorities and toward physically disabled persons. Ambivalence helps to explain why a person might sometimes treat members of a stigmatized group in a favorable or helpful way, and at other times in an unfavorable or hurtful way. The present research addresses two important but unresolved problems in research on attitude ambivalence. The problem is that satisfactory methods do not yet exist for measuring ambivalence. Thus, one part of this research focuses on developing a valid and reliable measurement procedure. The new procedure will facilitate research progress and can be applied in ongoing efforts to document and archive public opinion on important social concerns. The second problem is that relatively little is known about the structure and function of ambivalent attitudes. it is currently believed that ambivalence is caused by a conflict in fundamental values, and that people truly adhere to both positive and negative sentiments at the same time. However, ambivalence may also reflect poorly developed social attitudes, or it may reflect deliberate efforts to present whatever social image is most desired at the time. This research seeks to distinguish among the alternative explanations by studying cognitive processes associated with the storage and retrieval of ambivalent attitudes. The studies will provide a deeper understanding of why people often hold ambivalent attitudes. Ultimately, the research will provide a theoretical basis for developing interventions that promote interracial harmony, that encourage healthful lifestyles, and that mobilize the Nation's efforts to remove the social and physical barriers that often confront disabled persons.