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
Petty, r. E. (n.d.). Persuasion and Attitude Change. Retrieved from Comprehensive handbook of psychology (2nd ed).: http://faculty-gsb.stanford.edu/wheeler/documents/pettywheelertormalahandbookinpress.pdf
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.
Kerbel, Matthew R. (1993). An Empirical Test of the Role of Persuasion in the Exercise of
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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...
Tamir, M., & Robinson, M. D. (2004). Knowing Good From Bad: The Paradox of Neuroticism, Negative Affect, and Evaluative Processing. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87(6), 913-925. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.87.6.913
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 ...
Cognitively - based attitudes simply can be defined as the people’s belief on the quality or the characteristics of any attitude object. It is also an acknowledge belief on someone’s perspective view either from hearing or seeing on an object via means of communication or verbally. Cognitively based attitudes are logical and also it is closely connected with the fact. According to the book,”cognitively Based attitude is an attitude based primarily on people’s beliefs about the properties of an attitude object.”
Accomplishing my task appeared straightforward when applying my attitudes, perceived control, and subjective norms to the Theory of Planned Behavior; initially I had all necessary aspects to initiate a lifestyle change. Before starting my regiment I had the belief that regular running leads to decreased weight and improves overall health. Health and appropriate body size are both characteristics I evaluate as desirable. Subjective cultural norms highlighting the value of appropriate weight, active lifestyle, and overall health influenced my motivation to comply to these standards. In this way beliefs as well as evaluations of the beliefs influenced my motivation to start running. Additionally my perception of behavioral control and sense of self-efficacy are generally high. Since I accomplished similar goals in the past I felt it could be done again. My attitudes, subjective norms, and my perceived control indicate I had the behavioral intention to make the change to run more frequently.
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...
Wood, W. (2000). Attitude change: Persuasion and social influence.. Annual Review of Psychology, 51(1), 539.
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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
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.