Attitudes and Behavior: An Analysis of Specificity of Attitudinal Predictors

Three studies are reported that test the hypothesis that the best attitudinal predictor of behavior is one that is specific to the behavioral criterion. In all three studies, an individual's attitude toward performing the behavior was more highly correlated with behavior than the individual's attitude toward the object of the behavior. This was true (a) in predicting both current and future behaviors of individuals, (b) by using either self-reports or “observer” reports of the behavioral criterion, and (c) across three different behaviors.