Attitude Functions
Attitudes serve a number of various functions, ultimately such functions may serve individuals need to reinforce positive or negative attitudes toward objects. A number of conceptual models were derived from such perspectives; however, the most persuasive model is the multicomponent model of attitude which consist of cognitive, affective, and behavioral components that contribute to the structure and expression of attitudes (Maio & Haddock, 2010). The links between attitude content, structure, and function may give a better understanding of the attitude concept (Maio & Haddock, 2010).
Primary Function of Attitudes
Attitude content: According to Maio and Haddock (2010) the cognitive component involves beliefs and knowledge people may associate with an object. For example one may believe snakes are dangerous. The affective component of attitudes refers to an individual’s emotions or feelings associated with an object, such as fear of snakes. The behavioral component involves how attitudes influences the way an individual behaves toward an object from past experiences, such as how a person will avoid snakes and reacts with a cry if one is seen.
Attitude structure: Is another important issue that concerns how positive and negative feelings are assessed and organized within such components (Maio & Haddock, 2010). The assumption that beliefs, feelings, and behaviors may prevent the occurrence of negative, beliefs, feelings, and behaviors comes about as people are likely to experience either end of the continuum or find a location between (Maio & Haddock, 2010).
People can have any combination of positive or negative elements in one’s attitude as suggested in the one dimensional and the two dimensio...
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... in which a subject is in the position of telling the truth or consciously adapting to questions asked.
Conclusion
Although there are number of conceptual models that are attributed to the functions of ones behavior all may greatly contribute to the structure and expression of attitudes. The primary function of attitudes can be attributed to ones beliefs and feelings. People may or may not be aware of one’s attitude function, however; it is clear that attitudes can consciously or un- consciously be altered.
References
Maio, G. R., & Haddock, G. (2010). The psychology of attitudes and attitude change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage
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In the field of Psychology, more specifically health-behavioral research, there has been resounding interest in the structure and measurement of, what the psychological community refers to as, affect. Affect refers to how we, as humans, “experience emotion” and can be broken down into two dominant affective state dimensions, positive and negative affect (Hogg, Abrams, & Martin, 2010)(Watson, Clark, & Tellegen, 1988). According to Watson, Clark, & Tellegen (1988), positive affect (PA) refers to how enthusiastic and active a person is and negative affect (NA) refers to a general dimension of distress and displeasure. Tellegen (1985) claims that not only do these terms refer to affective state, but also affective trait dimensions, indicating that, “Trait PA and NA roughly correspond to the personality factors of extraversion and neuroticism,” respectively. While many PA and NA scales have been developed, however, these scales were unable to develop items for PA and NA that were statistically independent of each other. In an attempt to operationalize the orthogonal dimensions of positive and negative affect, Watson, Clark & and Tellegen (1988) developed The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (i.e. PANAS). In the following review, I will evaluate and critique the PANAS, as a measure of trait affect, focusing on the reliability and validity of scores, test content, and the manner in which it is used.
It is believed that a person’s attitude influences their memory. Many researchers have conducted experiments on this hypothesis. It has been determine that attitude does have an effect on memory; however, there has been discrepancies in the research results to what extent am individual’s attitude has on recall of past behavior (Aronson, 2012, pp. 164-165). Research done in 1943 by Levine and Murphy indicated that people tend to remember information that supports their social attitude rather than information that does not (Aronson, 2012, pp. 165). Similarly, earlier research looked at the effect attitude had on behavior and memory and found a negative correlation among the two (Aronson, 2012). Moreover, subsequent research has not conclusively determined that a person’s attitude influences their memory. Aronson reminds us that there is still room for further research to determine exactly the extent to which attitudes effect memory (2012).
Cognitive dissonance is a communication theory mostly used in the field of social psychology in providing a theoretical framework in dealing with various issues relating to psychology. The title provides us with the concept that cognitive is thinking while dissonance is the inconsistency or conflict brought about. Cognitive dissonance manifests when one holds two or more incompatible beliefs simultaneously. This theory has been used and applied in several disciplines including communication, due to its simplicity and straightforwardness. The theory is commonly applied in these dynamic fields since it replaces previous conditioning or reinforcement theories by viewing individuals as more purposeful decision makers striving to acquire a balance in their beliefs. Cognitions are chunks or bits of knowledge which can pertain to any variety of values, emotions or values. These cognations can be related to one another or they can also be completely independent from each other (Cooper, 06). For instance, one may like to eat junk food, but may also be trying to lose weight. The two cognitions are related to each other in tha...
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Wood, W. (2000). Attitude change: Persuasion and social influence.. Annual Review of Psychology, 51(1), 539.
...were made (the mildly anti-American statements) which opened the way for larger, more substantial suggestions. Attitude inoculation is believedto be the best way for people to avoid persuasion. It is defined as³Exposing people to weak attacks upon their attitudes so that when strongerattacks come they will have refutations available.²(5) Attitude inoculation was found to increase commitment to an attitude in addition to developing counterarguemnts. One application of the positive effects of attitude inoculation was conducted by Alfred McAlister on a class of seventhgraders that had them commit to anti-smoking attitudes.
Cognitive change and motivation applies to my life in how I interact with friends and family making their own lifestyle choices. Making sure people I know are aware why they’re making changes and of the benefits that come from changes will definitely help them in the long run. Explaining exactly why attitudes about self-efficacy and normative beliefs, such as in the Theory of Planned Behavior model, provide a clear way to illustrate the importance of cognition in lifestyle change.
Attitudes can be formed in a number of different ways. The three component model consists of Affective, Cognitive and behavioural based attitude experiences and has been a main area of focus among social psychologists. These three components are held within most attitudes, however not all attitudes are equal and different experiences can change the ...
Here, cognitively based attitude means simply a belief on the quality or characteristic of any attitude object. It also has some fact and the logic part on its side. In another hand we have elaboration of likelihood model, which means people must be influenced or motivated if there is some strong point. From above sentences its very clear that cognitively based attitude have all those characteristics where people can be easily influence and motivated becausemost of the people, whenever, have to take decision they always look over the fact and they try to make decision
The creation and belief in the mind of such a negative self-concept would produce a shame and anger oppressing the spirit of its true purpose by yieldi...
The fundamental question of what attitudes are cannot be answered easily, as many psychologists offer differing definitions. These range from simply describing them as likes and dislikes, to the definition provided by Tiffin and McCormick, in Attitude and Motivation(1971), where they summarize attitudes as being, “a frame of reference that influences the individual’s views or opinions on various topics and situations, and influences their behavior.” It is widely accepted, however, that attitudes include both beliefs and values. Beliefs, although considered to be based on the knowledge gained about the world around us, can vary greatly in their importance and influence, and therefore ibn their resistence to change.
An attitude is the value a person assigns to something or someone. For example, individuals have differing attitudes against all kinds of aspects such as immunisations, asylum seekers and people with disabilities. People may have either a negative or positive attitude towards these particular examples because of numerous internal and external factors. Attitude formation theories help us understand how another person’s attitude takes shape and why people have these specific beliefs. Often, peoples attitudes about something will reflect in their behaviour and how they act towards it.
This perspective suggests that much of human behavior is mediated by thought processes like memory and attention, belief systems, attitudes and language. Belief systems, value systems, thought processes, reason and intelligence have a significant impact on why we do the things we do and act the way we act. The cognitive perspective suggests that much of human behavior is significantly influenced by cognitive processes and is thus amenable to our thoughtful control (1). Cognitive Psychology revolves around the notion that if we want to know what makes people tick then the way to do it is to figure out what processes are actually going on in their minds