Attitude Formation

Definition

Attitude formation refers to the process by which individuals develop their beliefs, feelings, and behavioral tendencies towards an object, person, or issue. It is a central concept in social psychology, as attitudes shape how we perceive and interact with the world around us.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Attitudes can be formed through direct experience, observational learning, or the influence of others, such as parents, peers, and the media.
2. The tripartite model of attitudes suggests that attitudes have three components: cognitive (beliefs), affective (feelings), and behavioral (tendencies to act).
3. Attitudes can be explicit (consciously held) or implicit (unconsciously held), and these different types of attitudes can influence behavior in distinct ways.
4. Attitude formation is influenced by factors such as personal relevance, social norms, and the perceived consequences of holding a particular attitude.
5. Attitudes can be resistant to change, but they can also be influenced by persuasive communication, personal experience, and social pressure.

Review Questions

• Explain how the tripartite model of attitudes relates to the formation of attitudes.
  • The tripartite model of attitudes suggests that attitudes are composed of three interrelated components: cognitive (beliefs), affective (feelings), and behavioral (tendencies to act). In the context of attitude formation, these components work together to shape an individual's overall evaluation of an object, person, or issue. For example, if someone believes that recycling is important (cognitive), feels positively about it (affective), and is likely to engage in recycling behavior (behavioral), they have formed a positive attitude towards recycling. The interaction of these three components is crucial in the process of attitude formation.
• Describe how social learning theory and the elaboration likelihood model contribute to our understanding of attitude formation.
  • Social learning theory posits that people can acquire new attitudes, behaviors, and skills through observing others. This suggests that attitude formation can be influenced by observing the attitudes and behaviors of significant others, such as parents, peers, and the media. The elaboration likelihood model, on the other hand, explains how attitudes are formed and changed through either a central route (systematic processing) or a peripheral route (heuristic processing). The central route involves careful consideration of the merits of the attitude object, while the peripheral route relies on simple cues and heuristics. The interaction of these two theoretical perspectives highlights the complex and multifaceted nature of attitude formation, where both social learning and cognitive processing play important roles.
• Analyze how factors such as personal relevance, social norms, and perceived consequences influence the formation of attitudes.
  • Attitude formation is a dynamic process that is influenced by various factors. Personal relevance is a key factor, as people are more likely to form strong attitudes towards objects, people, or issues that are personally meaningful or have a direct impact on their lives. Social norms, which are the unwritten rules and expectations within a social group, can also shape attitude formation, as individuals often conform to the attitudes and behaviors that are deemed acceptable or desirable within their social context. Additionally, the perceived consequences of holding a particular attitude can influence its formation, as people tend to form attitudes that align with their goals and values, and avoid attitudes that may lead to negative outcomes. The interplay of these factors, along with the cognitive, affective, and behavioral components of attitudes, contributes to the complex and nuanced process of attitude formation.

Related terms

Cognitive Dissonance:

The psychological discomfort experienced when an individual holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values, which can drive attitude formation and change.

Social Learning Theory:

The theory that people can acquire new attitudes, behaviors, and skills through observing others, which influences the formation of attitudes.

Elaboration Likelihood Model:

A model that explains how attitudes are formed and changed through either a central route (systematic processing) or a peripheral route (heuristic processing).