Message-Attitude-Behavior Relationship explores the relationship between messages, attitudes, and behaviors. Emphasis is on alternative conceptualizations of various message strategies, cognitive and information processing models, and their relevance to the study of behavior. Innovative mathematical models are discussed to highlight stochastic and deterministic mathematical operators case in coextensive, sequential, and multidimensional arrays of systems state. Message strategies are cast in terms of social, psychological, and information processing constructs.
Comprised of 11 chapters, this book begins with an overview of the research tradition dealing with messages, attitudes, and behaviors. The following chapters provide in-depth justification, supported by data analysis, for the use of various theoretical and methodological approaches to the message-attitude-behavior relationship. An atomized, stochastic model of the behavioral effects of message campaigns is then described, along with the foundations of cognitive theory and a constructivist analysis of the relationship between attitudes and behavior. An information-processing explanation of attitude-behavior inconsistency is also outlined. The link between mental states and social action is analyzed with respect to Ludwig Wittgenstein's 1953 book Philosophical Investigations.
This monograph should be a valuable resource for both social and behavioral scientists engaged in behavioral research.

List of ContributorsPreface1 Attitudes, Behaviors, and Messages: An Introductory Overview Review of Theoretical and Empirical Progress and of Issues in the Attitude Behavior Literature Theory Types and Present Developments in Message-Attitude-Behavior Theory Theory and Quantitative Relationships: Methods Messages, Attitudes, and Behaviors: Implications References2 An Atomized, Stochastic Model of the Behavioral Effects of Message Campaigns Why Choose an Axiomatic Theory? Why a Stochastic Process Theory? An Axiomatized Stochastic Theory? Summary, Conclusions, Caveats, and Extensions References3 Foundations of Cognitive Theory: A Multidimensional Model of the Message-Attitude-Behavior Relationship Behavior, Attitude, and Entelechy Categories and Continua Simple Messages Compound Messages A Current Assessment References4 The Relationship of Attitudes and Behavior: A Constructivist Analysis The Nature of the Problem The Constructivist Analysis Comparison with Fishbein and Ajzen's Analysis Concluding Remarks References5 An Information-Processing Explanation of Attitude-Behavior Inconsistency The Information-Processing Perspective Storage Principles: The Determination of Attitudinal Responses from Informational Beliefs Semantic and Episodic Organization in LTM Attitudinal Reports and Behavioral Actions as Information Retrieval Processes from LTM Implications of the Information-Processing Explanation References6 Attitude-Verbal Report-Behavior Relationships as Causal Processes: Formalization, Test, and Communication Implications Overview Issues Definitions Plan Causal Process Theories A Causal Process Theory of Attitude-Verbal Report-Behavior Relationships Communication Implications Conclusion References7 Behavior and Hierarchies of Attitudes: A Deterministic Model Usefulness of Deterministic Modeling A Hierarchical Model of Attitude Organization and Change Behaviors and Attitudes in Hierarchical Systems Implications of the Hierarchical Model for Message Design Conclusion References8 The Message-Attitude-Behavior Relationship from the Point of View of the Actor The Attitude Concept Attitude, Behavior, and Intuition The Problem of Attitude-Behavior Matching The Point of View of the Actor Limitations of the Actor's Point of View References9 Wittgenstein's Philosophical Investigations and the Relationship between Mental States and Social Action Meanings and Messages Intentions and Behaviors Attitudes and Social Action References10 A Structural-Functional Model of the Message-Attitude-Behavior Relationship11 AfterwordAuthor IndexSubject Index