Bs 101

Module IV

Jyotika

Definition

“An attitude is a state of mind, a set of views or thoughts regarding objects, ideas, events or people”.

“Attitudes are evaluations people make about objects, ideas, events, or other people. Attitudes can be positive or negative”.

“An attitude is a dispositional readiness to respond to certain situations persons or objects in a consistent manner which has been learned or has become ones typical mode of response”.

Can be positive or negative May be reflected in behavior Learned Often difficult to change.

Attitudes strongly effect behavior so if attitudes are hard to change why are they so important?Importance of attitude Influence our thoughts Influence on behavior Indicate our adjustment.

Attitudes are important because they:

strongly influence our social thoughts◦ help to organize and evaluate stimuli (e.g.,

categorizing stimuli as positive or negative)

presumably have a strong affect on behavior◦ help to predict people‟s behavior in wide range of

contexts (e.g., voting, interpersonal relations)

• Indicate our adjustments

Attitudes help to indicate our adjustments

4.5

Attitude components.(A-B-C) components consist of cognitive, behavioral, and affective components.

The cognitive component (thought) is made up of the beliefs of an individual about the object of an attitude, This represents our thoughts, beliefs and ideas about something. Typically these come to light in generalities or stereotypes, such as 'all teenagers are lazy,' or the belief that all old people are senile.

The behavioral component (conative) consists of a predisposition to respond in a certain way to the object of the attitude such as 'we better keep those lazy teenagers out of the library,', for example, talking to an old person as if talking to a child.

component (emotional) refers to emotions aroused by the object of the attitude, This component deals with feelings or emotions that are brought to the surface about something, such as fear or hate. Using our above example, someone might have the attitude that they hate teenagers because they are lazy, or always feeling sorry for an older person.

1. What is your affective reaction when you see a certain car? -- Feelings of excitement?

◦ Anger and resentment (e.g., if you are a US car manufacturing employee and the car is foreign made)

2. What is your cognitive reaction? ◦ What beliefs do you hold about the car’s attributes?

◦ Perhaps you admire its hybrid engine that makes it one of the most fuel efficient cars you can buy.

3. What is your behavioral reaction? ◦ Do you go to a dealership and test-drive the car and actually

buy one?

Process of attitude formation – How are attitudes formed?

Attitudes are learnt through one‟s own experiences and through interaction with others. The process and conditions of learning may be different resulting in varying attitudes among people.

Learning attitudes by association – liking for particular subject because of a teacher.

Learning attitudes by being rewarded or punished –

If an individual is praised for showing a particular attitude, chances are high that she will develop that attitude further. E.g. practising yoga and get the honor of „miss good health‟ she may develop a positive attitude for yoga.

Learning attitudes by modelling (observing others)

We sometimes learn the attitudes through observing others being rewarded or punished for expressing thoughts or behaviour. E.g children may form respectful attitude towards elders by observing their parents and are appreciated for it.

Learning attitudes through group or cultural norms – Very often we learn attitudes through

the norms of our group or culture. Norms are unwritten rules about behaviour that everyone should follow. These norms become the part of our social cognition in the form of attitudes.

Learning through exposure to information –Many attitudes are learnt in a social context but not necessarily in the physical presence of others. Many negative and positive attitudes are formed through various media.

Positive attitude helps you cope more easily with the daily affairs of life. It brings optimism into your life, and makes it easier to avoid worry and negative thinking. If you adopt it as a way of life, it will bring constructive changes into your life, and makes them happier, brighter and more successful.

With a positive attitude you see the bright side of life, become optimistic, and expect the best to happen. It is certainly a state of mind that is well worth developing.

A negative attitude is characterized by a great disdain for everything. Someone who constantly points out the negative in everything.

A negative attitude is contagious and therefore avoiding people with one is the best way of prevention. Once you have a negative attitude, you will unlikely be able to recover and self fulfilling prophecy takes a hold.

Positive thinking.

Constructive thinking.

Creative thinking.

Expectation of success.

Optimism.

Motivation to accomplish your goals.

Being inspired.

Negative emotions are fuelled by an underlying fear of the unknown, a fear of the actions of others, and a need to control them or stop them to avoid being harmed. Below is a list ofsome common healthy vs. unhealthy emotions:

Positive Emotions Healthy Unhealthy

Negative EmotionsHealthy Unhealthy

Self-EsteemLoveHappinessInterestDesireSerenity / Calmness

ArroganceManiaObsessionAddictionPassivity

SadnessConcernAngerRemorseAwareness

DepressionRageShame / GuiltParanoiaIrritation

1. People Want to Help – A positive attitude makes others want to help us. No one wants to get near the person who is yelling and losing it at the first sign of trouble. Yet, everyone wants to come to the aid of the person who is smiling and keeping their head high despite bad things happening.

2. Avoids Wasting Time Complaining – Complaining doesn‟t get anything done. Instead, we can put our energy into the positive action of doing something to improve the situation.

3. Keeps Your Energy Level High – A positive attitude can lift us up even in hard times. We can boost our energy level by looking on the bright side of any situation. No matter how bad things get, there usually is something we can look positively at.

4. Builds Teamwork – A positive attitude is contagious; it

brings people together. Others want to be around people who are

positive. Nothing brings a team together and builds relationships like

positive energy.

5. Determines Your Confidence – As Henry Ford famously

said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t… you’re

right.” Our attitude determines our confidence and ultimately whether

or not we can succeed.

6. Solves Problems Instead of Making Problems – Have

you ever disarmed a tough situation with a smile? (Try it the next

time you are stuck at the airport.) Positive attitude is sometimes all it

takes to turn a bad situation around. On the other side, a bad attitude

can take a problem and quickly make it worse.

7. Helps You Make Good Decisions – Anger clouds our

judgement. When we let ourselves get upset, we impact our ability

to make good decisions. If we let our positive attitude clear our mind,

we can take appropriate action instead of reacting to emotion.

Choose to be happy.

Look at the bright side of life.

Choose to be and stay optimistic.

Find reasons to smile more often.

Have faith in yourself and in the Power of the Universe.

Contemplate upon the futility of negative thinking and worries.

.

Associate yourself with happy people.

Read inspiring stories.

Read inspiring quotes.

Repeat affirmations that inspire and motivate you.

Visualize only what you want to happen.

Learn to master your thoughts.

Learn concentration and meditation

Smile easily Willing to change ideas and

behavior Can see another person‟s

point of view Rarely complains Accepts responsibility for

mistakes Seldom criticizes others Is considerate of others Look others people in eyes

when talking with them Respects other opinion of

others Never make excuse Has a variety of interests

Rarely smiles Unwilling to change

Can‟t see another person‟s point of view

Blames others for own mistakes

Very critical of others Thinks only of self Does not look other people

in the eyes Forces own opinions on

others Often makes excuses Has few interests