Attitudes

• What is an attitude


  A predisposition of beliefs or feelings towards an attitude object
• The triadic model


  The three parts of an attitude: cognitive, affective, behavioural
• Cognitive component of attitude


  Relates to beliefs and knowledge

  E.g : you believe that fitness training 3x a week enhances quality of life
• Affective component


  Consists of an emotional response towards an attitude object

  E.g: training is enjoyable and you feel good when participating
• Behavioural component


  Concerned with how a person intends to behave towards an attitude object

  E.g : joining a fitness club to follow an organised fitness programme
• How are attitudes formed

  Attitudes are formed mainly through experience. A pleasant experience will usually lead to a positive attitude. An unpleasant experience like failure, criticism or injury would bring about a negative attitude
• Socialisation


  The process of acquiring values, attitudes and behaviours through interacting with significant others.
• Cognitive dissonance theory


  Suggests if a person holds two ideas that conflict with each other an element of discomfort occurs. It is only when the conflict is resolved that they will feel better and the change of attitude will occur
• To reduce dissonance you can...

  -) Provide new information to dispel old thoughts

  -) give a different experience which might be more positive

  -) ensure skills are simplified to increase chances of success
• Persuasive communication theory


  Persuading an individual to change or altering their beliefs, attitudes and behaviour towards something
• Factors affecting the effectiveness of persuasive communication

  -) persuader - needs to be someone who is perceived to be significant

  -) message - needs to be presented in a way that makes the recipient want to change the attitude

  -) recipient - needs to be open to change

  -) situation - attitudes are easier to change if there are other persuaders present