We have examined a number of ways in which our attitudes can be manipulated or changed by outsiders in considering propaganda (and even high pressure automobile sales!) and also at some of the more internal cognitive consistency processes that act to distort our attitudes and beliefs (balance theory and cognitive dissonance theory). We've thus seen ways in which we appear to be weak minded, other directed (Riesman) and easily manipulated by others and by some of our own characteristic behaviors. Today we will complete our discussion of cognitive dissonace and consider one last consistancy theory, self perception theory. We will then push this issue much further in today's lecture when we examine conformity and obedience, to examine the point where we become downright dangerous to each other and to ourselves. But as we do this, it is important to be aware that there is also a danger on the other side--the idealogue who is absolutely convinced of his own ideas and willing to go to great lengths and sacrifice much (including others) for his ideas. We take a look at these issues now, starting with fairly mild processes and working our way up to the more serious, and finally think a bit about how we might overcome this problem? The slides are included in the same set as last week's.