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Changing Behaviour

Attitudes

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Objectives

Understand what attitude is?

Describe what the triadic model of attitudes is

Understand how attitudes are formed and how they are effected

Understand why we need to form positive attitudes

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What is an Attitude?In pairs discuss what an attitude is and come up

with a definition?

An attitude is a view held by an individual towards an attitude object

The view may be positive, negative or neutral

Makes a person act in a certain way towards the attitude object

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Attitudes

If a player has a problem with one referee in agame, does this mean they have and attitudewith all officials?

Attitudes are specific not global (Gill 1986)

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Prejudice

Give me an example of prejudice?

Emo’sGoth’sSkater’s

A value judgement of someone or something based on incomplete, inaccurate and stereotypical views

So why does this make it an attitude??

You will behave in a certain way towards the person or object you have the prejudice attitude against.

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Multi-Dimensional

Attitudes are multi-dimensional, they are made up of:

•Knowledge•Emotional feelings•Behavioural Intentions

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Attitudes and Social NormsWhat are social norms / socially acceptable?

•Social Norms are:•Unwritten rules•Behaviours•Values•Beliefs/attitudes

When someone is accused of having a poor attitude it is because their behaviour goes against social norms

Social norms are accepted through people approving the behaviours or disapproving of them

In turn this leads social acceptance or rejection

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Attitude Components

Attitudes are made up of three components called the TRIADIC MODEL

•Cognitive component – What we know and believe about the attitude object. E.g I understand and know training will help me get better and fitter

•Affective Components – What we feel about the attitude objectE.g I like the feeling of being fitter and stronger for my matches

•Behavioural Components – How we respond or intend to respond to the attitude object. E.g Work harder in training, plan extra sessions etc...

In pairs, come up with a full sporting example that includes all three components of the triadic model of attitudes

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How attitudes are formed?

How have you formed your attitudes and prejudices?

Attitudes are formed by experience and learning

Peer GroupsConditioningSocialisation and Social LearningFamiliarity

Make notes from page 159 on each of the of 4 factors that influence attitudes, give a good sporting example

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Forming a Good Attitude

Why should we try to adopt or from good attitudes?

•A good attitude is a good predictor of behaviour

•Is beneficial to the individual as leads to preferred to behaviours such

as sportsmanship or dedication

•Allow individuals to be accepted in small groups, in society and feel

valued because of preferred norms of attitude

Also known as Socialisation, learning values, norms and culture of that particular society

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Measuring AttitudeThere are two main ways is which psychologist to determine the strength of an individuals attitude, they are:

Observations

Psychologists observe a performer, making notes of signs of and attitude

They look positive and negative responses

Could come in the from of:

•Over arousal•Changes in body language - slumped posture, poor eye contact•Changes in physiological responses

Very hard to observe and can only give a general indication of an individuals attitude

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Measuring Attitudes

Questionnaires

Most common method and very easy to administer

Performer is asked a question about an attitude object and asked to say how they feel in relation to a scale (1 being hate it - 10 being really enjoy it)

Other methods involve asking performers to describe their thoughts and feelings towards the attitude object

Results are then analysed and an indication of a performers attitude is given

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ProblemsAs with any questionnaire or scale there are always problems:

•Performer may give the answer that makes them look the best E.g lie!!

•Performer may give the answer they think the questionnaire is looking for

•Not all performers will understand the questions given or the scale used

•Scales may be inaccurate

•The way questions are phrased may change a performers attitude

•Most attitude questionnaires are not sport specific, how can we interpret the results properly

•Experience of the interpreter will determine the results

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Changing an Attitude

There is a general trend that certain types of attitude are important for an athlete to succeed, especially at a high level.

If these attitudes are not present then they may need to be changed.

There are two main ways:

•Persuasive communication

•Cognitive Dissonance

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Persuasive Communication

The Persuader

The MessageThe Receiver

The person attempting the change:

E.g, Coach, teacher

The person whose attitude the persuader

is attempting to change:

E.g, Player. pupil

The quality of the message the persuader

is giving

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The Persuader

Important factors to consider when being a Persuader:

Status – If a person has higher status than the receiver (e.g coach) they are more like to persuade

Popularity – Role models or popular members of the team will make effective

Credibility – Linked to status, is the persuader trustworthy and given good advice in the past. Does the persuader have your best interests at heart?

Social or Cultural Background

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The MessageThe message must be:

Accurate – is what the persuader saying obviously correct?!?

Stated with confidence and enthusiasm (don’t over do it)

Clarity of the message – is the message well constructed and logical

Factual and logical - appealing to the receivers intellect

Emotional - appealing to the receivers feelings of loyalty, duty and responsibility

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The ReceiverIs the Receiver:

Ready for the message – can they understand the argument in terms of emotional, intellectual or educational development

Open to persuasion – how strong are there current attitudes held?

Motivated to change – are they open to the possibility of persuasion and a change.

What could happen if you push someone too hard??

This theory is very much common sense, it can fail if a receiver has to strong a belief in their attitude and is open to change

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Cognitive Dissonance

Dissonance = Lack of Consistency

A theory of changing attitudes

Individuals like to have consistent thoughts, feelings and behaviours

If they do something against these attitudes they feel dissonance

Closely linked to the triadic model

Copy down example from the book p.164 and then we will discuss

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EvaluationCognitive dissonance is regarded as too simple and does not take into account individuals personality traits, motivations and consistency needs

They are both useful in understanding why we have negative attitudes

Helps you consider factors that need to be considered when altering and attitude

They both give you a range of strategies to help alter attitudes

Attitudes can not be changed over night!!!!

Not always going to be successful

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