6.1 Attitude

Question 1

How can you define attitude?

Answer 1

A value or opinion aimed at an attitude object

Question 2

What is socialisation?

Answer 2

Personality can be developed by associating with people and picking up their behaviour

Question 3

When can attitudes be negative?

Answer 3

When the behaviour learned is negative or the reinforcement is negative - for example a coach giving praise for cheating

Question 4

When can attitudes be positive?

Answer 4

When praise is given from the coach, a positive attitude to your sport will be developed and there will be a positive response to the coach

Question 5

What is the triadic model?

Answer 5

Attitude is made up of three components; the parts of an attitude are known as the triadic model

Question 6

Cognitive component

Answer 6

This is the most deep routed part of the attitude; this part refers to your beliefs, knowledge and thoughts.
For example, your belief in your ability to win or a belief in the benefits of exercise

Question 7

Affective component

Answer 7

This refers to your feelings and your emotional response.
For example, enjoying training

Question 8

The behavioural component

Answer 8

This refers to the actions or intended behaviour of the performer
For example, going to training three times a week

Question 9

What are the two concepts that promote attitude change?

Answer 9

Cognitive dissonance and persuasive communication

Question 10

What is cognitive dissonance?

Answer 10

New information given to a performer to cause unease and disharmony, to motivate change

Question 11

What are the ways a coach can use cognitive dissonance?

Answer 11

• The player may be given new information to make them question their current attitudes and motivate them to change them
• Using rewards as reinforcement
• Making the activity fun or varying practice to make the situation more enjoyable than expected consequently changing opinion
• The coach could bring in a specialist or role model player from another club to encourage participation

Question 12

What is persuasive communication?

Answer 12

Where sports performers are talked into changing their attitudes

Question 13

What is vital for persuasive communication to be affective?

Answer 13

The message needs to be understood and there needs to be quality new information.
The timing of when the message is given must be correct.
The message should be given by someone of high status or a role model.
New information needs to outweigh old beliefs in order for a change to take place.