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 peoples 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

cognitive, behavioral, and affective components.

consist of

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 cars 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 ones 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 Emotions
Healthy
Unhealthy

Self-Esteem
Love
Happiness
Interest
Desire
Serenity /
Calmness

Sadness
Concern
Anger
Remorse
Awareness

Arrogance
Mania
Obsession
Addiction
Passivity

Depression
Rage
Shame / Guilt
Paranoia
Irritation

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
doesnt 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 cant youre
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 persons
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
Cant see another persons
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