Attitude

Knowledge and Understanding

Attitude

  • Definition of Attitude

    • Attitude is a learned behavioral predisposition, which is linked to personality.

    • All attitudes are unstable, learned, and can be changed or controlled.

Formation of Attitudes

  • Primary Formation:

    • Attitudes are mainly formed through experiences. For example, an enjoyable experience in Physical Education (PE) is likely to promote a positive attitude.

    • The process of mixing and relating to people is known as socialization.

  • Factors Influencing Attitudes:

    • Coach/Teacher

    • Parents/Friends

    • Media

    • Prejudice

    • Past experiences

Influence of Key Factors on Attitudes

Coach/Teacher

  • Positive Influence:

    • A good coach who positively corrects mistakes can promote a good attitude in an athlete.

    • Example: A coach who offers constructive feedback aids in developing a positive attitude.

  • Negative Influence:

    • A bad coach who yells and fails to correct can lead to a bad attitude in athletes.

Parents/Friends

  • Negative Influence:

    • A parent who has unrealistic expectations can instill a bad attitude.

    • Example: If a parent expects too much, it can lead to pressure and a negative attitude.

  • Positive Influence:

    • A supportive parent, regardless of performance, encourages a positive attitude in children.

Past Experiences

  • Some past experiences, such as competing in events where previous performances were poor, can lead to a bad attitude.

Prejudice

  • Prejudice affects attitudes and behaviors towards particular groups, affecting their participation and support in sports contexts.

Stereotyping and Prejudice

Stereotypical Attitudes

  • Definition:

    • A stereotypical attitude leads individuals to expect people characterized as belonging to a particular group to behave in a specific manner.

  • Impact:

    • Negative stereotyping can significantly hinder opportunities and access for particular groups in sports.

  • Examples of Negative Stereotyping in Sports:

    • Women in contact, strength, and endurance sports.

    • Participation of individuals with disabilities in physical activities.

    • Perception of older age groups in terms of interest and ability in sports.

    • Participation of specific ethnic groups in certain sports.

  • Prejudice:

    • Arises from stereotyping. It is an attitude based on inadequate knowledge and inflexible beliefs and can be positive or negative.

Components of Attitude

Triadic Model of Attitude

  • Components:

    1. Cognitive: Knowledge and beliefs about the subject.

    • Example: "Swimming training keeps me fit."

    1. Affective: Feelings and emotions toward the attitude object.

    • Example: "I enjoy swimming."

    1. Behavioral: Intended behavior towards the subject.

    • Example: "I attend training sessions regularly."

Measuring Attitude

Direct Measurement of Attitudes

  • Methods:

    • Likert Scales:

    • Unipolar: measures responses from 'not at all helped' to 'very helped.'

    • Bipolar: measures levels of agreement with statements.

    • Semantic Differential Scales:

    • Respondents indicate positions on a scale between two bipolar adjectives (e.g., Happy-Sad).

    • Thurstone Scales:

    • Measures attitudes using a series of ‘agree-disagree’ statements of varying weights.

Indirect Measurement of Attitudes

  • Methods:

    • Observing behavior or physiological responses to gauge attitudes.

  • Changing Attitude from Negative to Positive:

    • Developing positive attitudes and changing negative ones can be achieved through two main ways:

    1. Cognitive Dissonance Theory:

      • Defined by Festinger's theory, cognitive dissonance arises when an individual holds conflicting ideas, leading to discomfort. Reducing this discomfort may necessitate altering one of the conflicting beliefs, resulting in a change in attitude.

    2. Persuasive Communication:

      • Key factors include the credibility and expertise of the persuader, clarity of the message, openness of the recipient to change, and ensuring a safe, non-threatening environment.

Cognitive Dissonance Theory

  • Understanding Cognitive Dissonance:

    • According to Festinger, when a behavior conflicts with a belief (e.g., neglecting training) it can create dissonance leading to rationalizations (e.g., "missing a session won’t matter").

  • Strategies to Reduce Dissonance:

    1. Change one of the cognitions.

    2. Reduce the importance of existing beliefs.

    3. Suggest more consistent beliefs.

    • Examples of changing cognitions to motivate attitudes can include updating informational knowledge or enhancing emotional experiences.

Overview of Attitude Change in Coaching

Factors in Coaching for Attitude Change

  • An expert understanding of the recipient's background is crucial for effective persuasion. The message delivered should be clear and balanced to aid in altering attitudes.