Page 1 - LN 2_Attitude and Social Cognition

Class - XII

Psychology

Chapter 6: Attitude and Social Cognition

MODULE - 2

(Topics: Attitude Formation and Attitude Change)

Short Note

ATTITUDE FORMATION

• Attitudes towards different topics, things and people also are formed as we
interact with others.
• However, there are specific conditions that lead to the formation of specific
attitudes.
• Attitudes are learned through one’s own experiences, and through interaction
with others.
• Process of Attitude Formation.

The processes and conditions of learning may be different, resulting in varying
attitudes among people.

✓ Learning attitudes by association :

Students often develop a liking for a particular subject because of the teacher.
This is because they see many positive qualities in that teacher. A positive
attitude towards the subject is learned through the positive association between
a teacher and a student.

✓ Learning attitudes by being rewarded or punished :

If an individual is praised for showing a particular attitude, chances are high
that s/he will develop that attitude further.

✓ Learning attitudes through modelling (observing others) :
Often it is not through association, or through reward and punishment, instead,
we learn attitude by observing others being rewarded or punished for
expressing thoughts, or showing behaviour of a particular kind towards the
attitude object.