Attitude properties Flashcards
What are the 4 properties/features of attitude?
-Valence
-Extremeness
-Simplicity or Complexity
-Centrality
Explain valence
The valence of an attitude tells us whether an attitude is positive or negative towards the attitude object
Provide an example for valence
for eg: attitude of a person towards nuclear research : has to be expressed on a -point scale ranging from 1(Very Bad)-2(Bad)-3(Neutral)-4(Good)-5(Very good). If individual -4/5-positive attitude-nuclear research-good
if individual-1/2-negative attitude-nuclear research-bad
if indivdual-3-neutral-nuclear research
Explain extremeness
The extremeness of the attitude indicates how positive or negative an attitude is.
Provide an example for extremeness
for eg: taking the example of nuclear research: a rating of 1 is as extreme as a rating of 5, they are only in the opposite directions
ratings of 2 and 4 are less extreme and a rating of 3 is lowest of extremeness
Explain simplicity or complexity
This feature refers to how many attitudes there are within a broader attitude
-An attitude system is said to be ‘simple’ if it contains only one or a few attitudes
-And it is said to be ‘complex’ if it is made up of many attitudes
Provide an example for simplicity and complexity
for eg:
COMPLEXITY:
attitude system towards health and well-being, this attitude system may consist of several member attitudes towards physical health, mental health, well-being etc.
SIMPLICITY:
attitude system towards a particular person, is likely to consists of mainly one attitude
Explain centrality
This refers to the role of a particular attitude in the attitude system.
An attitude with greater centrality would influence other attitudes in the system much more than non-central
Provide an example for centrality
for eg: attitude towards world peace: a negative attitude towards high military expenditure may be present as a core or central attitude that influences all other attitudes in the multiple attitude system.
