Psychology - ATTITUDES

Attitude

An emotional response that can be enduring: can last throughout life. Attitudes are also unstable, they can be changed.

What is an attitude object?

A place, situation or behaviour.

An attitude is directed towards an attitude object

What is the effect of a negative attitude towards sport?

may result in rejection of physical activity

What is prejudice?

a preconceived idea/opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience

What effect can prejudice have on sport?

Attitude prejudice could reduce the possibility of a young person taking up sport

the prejudice ay be against the sport or the young person may be a victim of prejudice

What forms attitudes?

• experiences

• socialisation

• peer group

• media

• culture

What scales are used to measure attitude?

• likert scale

• semantic differential scale

• thurstone scale

Explain the triadic model

• cognitive - belief/knowledge that the individual holds about the attitude object

• Affective - feelings/emotions towards an attitude object

• Behavioural - how a person intends to behave/respond to an attitude object

Cognitive dissonance theory

• if two components of attitude are opposing/in conflict emotional discomfort (dissonance) is suffered

• if one attitude component can be changed, there is a chance to change the entire attitude

• providing a negative attitude with a new positive experience e.g. tag rugby instead of contact rugby

Persuasive communication theory

• persuader - someone perceived as significant

• message - presented in a way that makes recipient want to change their attitude

• recipient - more easily changed if they are willing to change e.g. open-minded

• Situation - easier to change if there are other persuaders present