Paper 2: Attitudes Flashcards
What is the definition of attitude?
Attitude is an enduring emotional feeling that alters the response given towards a specific situation.
Why is a positive attitude beneficial?
- Improved goal motivation
- Improved task persistence
What are the four factors that form an attitude?
- Personality type
- Social influences
- Personal experiences
- Conditioning
How do personality types effect attitude?
Extroverts are more likely to have a positive attitude towards sport with a Nach approach, whilst introverts may have a Naf approach and try to avoid failure.
How do social influences effect attitude?
An individual is more likely to form an attitude that is similar to those in their peer group, through the process of social learning.
For example, if a young girl’s friendship group holds the attitude that playing sport is masculine, the young girl is likely to adopt this same behaviour.
Links to primary and secondary socialisation.
How do personal experiences effect attitude?
If an individual has had a high amount of positive personal experience of a certain situation, they are more likely to form a positive attitude towards this situation.
The more emotional the experience, the more likely that an attitude will be formed.
How can conditioning effect attitude?
Reinforcement can promote the formation of a particular attitude.
If an attitude towards a situation is reinforced as being positive, an individual is more likely to keep and strengthen this attitude.
What is the triadic model and what does it consist of?
Remember: Triadic Model ABC
Every attitude consists of three components:
- Affective
- Behavioural
- Cognitive
What is the AFFECTIVE component of the triadic model?
Thoughts & Feelings.
The affective component concerns the emotional reaction held
towards an attitude object.
A positive emotional reaction would promote the formation of a positive attitude.
What is the BEHAVIOURAL component of the triadic model?
Action.
The behavioural component concerns how an individual acts
when faced with an attitude object.
Previous behaviour can affect the formation of a positive attitude.
What is the COGNITIVE component of the triadic model?
Knowledge & Beliefs.
The cognitive component concerns the individual’s thoughts towards an attitude object.
This involves an individual’s attitude being influenced by either positive or negative beliefs that the individual holds.
What methods can be used to change attitude?
- Persuasive communication
- Cognitive dissonance
What is persuasive communication?
Persuasive communication method involves using communication to persuade an individual to change their attitude.
What factors does the success of persuasive communication depend on?
- Characteristics of the receiver, if they are willing to change then they are more likely to do so
- Characteristics of the persuader, more likely to be persuaded if the persuader has higher status than receiver
- The quality of the message, must be clear, accurate and concise. Not overloaded with information.
- The situation, positive environment, social support for a change in attitude.
What is cognitive dissonance?
The basis of this method is to create an imbalance in one beliefs, to change their attitude. Created by causing a conflict between two of the attitude components.
