AS COUNSELORS LET US BE AWARE ABOUT ATTITUDE
BY MABAU SEBASTIAN,M.(BEDCP member )
ATTITUDES
How Attitudes Form, Change and Shape Our Behavior
What's your opinion on the death penalty?
Which political party does a better job of running the country? Should prayer
be allowed in schools? Should violence on television be regulated?
Chances are that you probably have fairly strong opinions
on these and similar questions. You've developed attitudes about such issues,
and these attitudes influence your beliefs as well as your behavior. Attitudes
are an important topic of study within the field of social
psychology. What exactly is an attitude? How does it develop? Continue
reading to learn more about how psychologists define this concept, how
attitudes influence our behavior and things we can do to change attitudes.
What Is an Attitude?
Psychologists define attitudes as a learned tendency to
evaluate things in a certain way. This can include evaluations of people,
issues, objects or events. Such evaluations are often positive or negative, but
they can also be uncertain at times. For example, you might have mixed feelings
about a particular person or issue.
Researchers also suggest that there are several different
components that make up attitudes.
1.
An Emotional Component: How the
object, person, issue or event makes you feel.
2.
A Cognitive Component: Your
thoughts and beliefs about the subject.
3.
A Behavioral Component: How the
attitude influences your behavior.
Attitudes can also be explicit and implicit. Explicit
attitudes are those that we are consciously aware of and that clearly influence
our behaviors and beliefs. Implicit attitudes are unconscious, but still have
an effect on our beliefs and behaviors.
How Do Attitudes Form?
Attitudes form directly as a result of experience. They
may emerge due to direct personal experience, or they may result from
observation. Social roles and social norms can have a strong influence on
attitudes. Social roles relate to how people are expected to behave in a
particular role or context. Social norms involve society's rules for what
behaviors are considered appropriate.
Attitudes can be learned in a variety of ways. Consider
how advertisers use classical
conditioning to influence your attitude toward a particular product. In a
television commercial, you see young, beautiful people having fun in on a
tropical beach while enjoying a sport drink. This attractive and appealing
imagery causes you to develop a positive association with this particular
beverage.
Operant
conditioning can also be used to influence how attitudes develop. Imagine a
young man who has just started smoking. Whenever he lights up a cigarette,
people complain, chastise him and ask him to leave their vicinity. This
negative feedback from those around him eventually causes him to develop an
unfavorable opinion of smoking and he decides to give up the habit.
Finally, people also learn attitudes by observing
the people around them. When someone you admire greatly espouses a
particular attitude, you are more likely to develop the same beliefs. For
example, children spend a great deal of time observing the attitudes of their
parents and usually begin to demonstrate similar outlooks.
How Do Attitudes Influence Behavior?
We tend to assume that people behave in accordance with
their attitudes. However, social psychologists have found that attitudes and
actual behavior are not always perfectly aligned. After all, plenty of people
support a particular candidate or political party and yet fail to go out and
vote.
Researchers have discovered that people are more likely
to behave according to their attitudes under certain conditions:
·
When your attitudes are the result of
personal experience.
·
When you are an expert in the subject.
·
When you expect a favorable outcome.
·
When the attitudes are repeatedly
expressed.
·
When you stand to win or lose something due
to the issue.
In some cases, people may actually alter their attitudes
in order to better align them with their behavior. Cognitive
dissonance is a phenomenon in which a person experiences psychological
distress due to conflicting thoughts or beliefs. In order to reduce this
tension, people may change their attitudes to reflect their other beliefs or
actual behaviors.
Imagine the following situation: You've always placed a
high value on financial security, but you start dating someone who is very
financially unstable. In order to reduce the tension caused by the conflicting
beliefs and behavior, you have two options. You can end the relationship and
seek out a partner who is more financially secure, or you can de-emphasize the
importance of fiscal stability. In order to minimize the dissonance between
your conflicting attitude and behavior, you either have to change the attitude
or change your actions.
Attitude Change
While attitudes can have a powerful effect on behavior,
they are not set in stone. The same influences that lead to attitude formation
can also create attitude change.
·
Learning Theory of Attitude Change: Classical
conditioning, operant conditioning and observational learning can be used to
bring about attitude change. Classical conditioning can be used to create
positive emotional reactions to an object, person or event by associating positive
feelings with the target object. Operant conditioning can be used to strengthen
desirable attitudes and weaken undesirable ones. People can also change their
attitudes after observing the behavior of others.
·
Elaboration Likelihood Theory of Attitude Change: This
theory of persuasion
suggests that people can alter their attitudes in two ways. First, they can be
motivated to listen and think about the message, thus leading to an attitude
shift. Or, they might be influenced by characteristics of the speaker, leading
to a temporary or surface shift in attitude. Messages that are
thought-provoking and that appeal to logic are more likely to lead to permanent
changes in attitudes.
·
Dissonance Theory of Attitude Change: As
mentioned earlier, people can also change their attitudes when they have
conflicting beliefs about a topic. In order to reduce the tension created by
these incompatible beliefs, people often shift their attitudes.
Does it seem
strange that some people COMPLAIN they don’t have enough TIME to be happy, yet
they find enough time to be sad? Not really. You see, their deplorable plight
has nothing to do with having sufficient or insufficient time. It has everything
to do with complaining. After all, complaining is the negation of happiness.
It’s impossible to complain and be happy at the same time.
So, beware of that insidious disease known as ‘negativitis’ (negative thinking). It is as pervasive as the common cold, but far more damaging. It mutilates, cripples, and corrodes the human spirit. Those infected by it are broken men and women aimlessly plodding along. The dark clouds brooding over them obscure their vision and cause them to become confrontational, apathetic, and cynical. Their lives are like flat champagne, without any sizzle. So, how do we inoculate ourselves against such a harmful disease? It was only after learning about the horrible effects of smoking that people began to give it up. It may be wise to do the same here. So, let’s review the effects of negativitis.
1. Complaining is worse than doing nothing, for it is digging the rut one is in deeper and deeper. Each time one complains, it becomes increasingly difficult to climb out of the ditch they’ve created. To loosen the grip of this vicious habit, we need to become aware of our complaining, stop it in its tracks, and immediately look for something positive to say. It’s just a matter of replacing a bad habit with a good one.
2. A negative attitude is self-defeating. We won’t find solutions to life’s problems by looking for someone or something to blame. Those who say, "Positive thinking doesn't work for me," have got it backwards. It’s not positive thinking that has to work; YOU have to work. For example, you have to work at appreciating what you have instead of moaning about what you lack.
3. Failure to do what you want to do (be happy) causes physical and mental stress. A rotten attitude, not only delays success, but also shortens life by damaging the immune system (to learn more on how your thoughts affect your immune system, investigate psychoneuroimmunology). So, besides the diseases directly caused by stress, such as heart disease and ulcers, we become susceptible to all manner of other diseases because of a weakened immune system.
4. Do you know anyone with a negative attitude? How many years have they been that way? Two years? Five years? Ten years? That’s how many years of happiness and success they have robbed themselves of. Blinded by their own negativity, they are prevented from seeing the good around them.
5. One characteristic of negative thinkers is their need to have the world behave according to their wishes. They have never grown up and still live with childish demands. Whenever people and the world fail to act according to their selfish wishes, they are unhappy. Such a poisonous attitude prevents them from growing and learning how to cope with life's challenges.
6. Everything negative we say about ourselves to ourselves (self-talk) and to others is a suggestion. We are unwittingly practicing self-hypnosis, programing ourselves for failure, and creating self-fulfilling prophecies.
7. The negative world of our imagination creates a negative world that is real and one that we are forced to live in. Take Ralph, for example. He’s always complaining about life. “Nowadays people are rude and surly. No matter where you go or what you do, you have to deal with ill-bred people.” As he said this, we made our way to a coffee shop. Once inside, we were greeted by a cheerful chap who asked us what we would like. Sighing (as if it took a great effect to speak), Ralph, almost inaudibly, ordered a medium sized regular coffee. When it arrived, he started complaining. Pointing to the cup, he said, “This is medium?” Without waiting for a response, he added, “You should have told me your cups are so small; I would have ordered a large one if I knew.” Despite the long line that Ralph was holding up, the man behind the counter tried to be patient. Without complaint, he took away the small coffee and replaced it with a large one. As soon as it arrived, Ralph looked at it aghast and bellowed, “You call this regular? There’s not enough cream!” The man behind the counter, who only moments ago was cheerful was now upset and sarcastically replied, “Yes, for MOST people, this is regular, but if you INSIST, I’ll put in more cream. Perhaps next time you may want to ask for DOUBLE cream!” I was next, so I got my coffee and joined Ralph at the table. “See,” he told me, “what did I say to you? People are rude.” Yes, in Ralph’s world, people ARE rude, but what he does not realize is he makes them so.
8. A particularly pernicious effect of ‘negativitis’ is that it sets one up for the mentality of a victim. Those with a woe-is-me attitude sit around in misery, waiting to be rescued. But they wait in vain because no one can rescue them from their own attitude. They are the only ones who can change it. And until they do so, they are condemned to continue suffering.
9. Another adverse effect of negativity is that it sets one up for the magic-bullet-syndrome. That is, the victim of ‘negativitis’ spends their time looking for a quick, easy fix, when none exists. By denying a fundamental law of life that states anything worthwhile requires effort to achieve, they achieve nothing. They won’t make progress until they realize that nothing in life is free. They’ve got to be willing to do what it takes to get what they want.
10. Also, beware of the fact that negative people attract other complainers. Because those who live in a world of doom and gloom alienate others, they have no choice but to look for other negative people to associate with. They then feed off one another and get locked in a clique of losers.
11. The constant stress that flows from a negative attitude also saps one’s energy, focus, and motivation. It is hardly a formula for success.
12. Also of great concern is the fact that those who refuse to work on improving their negative attitude may slide into depression, self-pity, and hopelessness.
13. Additionally, negative people not only harm themselves; they harm the world. They cease to make a contribution to it. Instead of helping, they spread gloom and misery everywhere. If they insist on infecting others, why not infect them with laughter? If they must carry something contagious, why not carry a smile?
Imagine being in a small boat drifting in a river. And imagine being unaware that your boat has a motor. As long as you fail to use that motor you will be a captive of the river. You will be a prisoner without any control over your destination. Yet, the boat that we’re in does have a motor. We can use it to change course. That motor is our power of choice. All we have to do is choose to look for the good, for when we do so, that is all we will find!
So, beware of that insidious disease known as ‘negativitis’ (negative thinking). It is as pervasive as the common cold, but far more damaging. It mutilates, cripples, and corrodes the human spirit. Those infected by it are broken men and women aimlessly plodding along. The dark clouds brooding over them obscure their vision and cause them to become confrontational, apathetic, and cynical. Their lives are like flat champagne, without any sizzle. So, how do we inoculate ourselves against such a harmful disease? It was only after learning about the horrible effects of smoking that people began to give it up. It may be wise to do the same here. So, let’s review the effects of negativitis.
1. Complaining is worse than doing nothing, for it is digging the rut one is in deeper and deeper. Each time one complains, it becomes increasingly difficult to climb out of the ditch they’ve created. To loosen the grip of this vicious habit, we need to become aware of our complaining, stop it in its tracks, and immediately look for something positive to say. It’s just a matter of replacing a bad habit with a good one.
2. A negative attitude is self-defeating. We won’t find solutions to life’s problems by looking for someone or something to blame. Those who say, "Positive thinking doesn't work for me," have got it backwards. It’s not positive thinking that has to work; YOU have to work. For example, you have to work at appreciating what you have instead of moaning about what you lack.
3. Failure to do what you want to do (be happy) causes physical and mental stress. A rotten attitude, not only delays success, but also shortens life by damaging the immune system (to learn more on how your thoughts affect your immune system, investigate psychoneuroimmunology). So, besides the diseases directly caused by stress, such as heart disease and ulcers, we become susceptible to all manner of other diseases because of a weakened immune system.
4. Do you know anyone with a negative attitude? How many years have they been that way? Two years? Five years? Ten years? That’s how many years of happiness and success they have robbed themselves of. Blinded by their own negativity, they are prevented from seeing the good around them.
5. One characteristic of negative thinkers is their need to have the world behave according to their wishes. They have never grown up and still live with childish demands. Whenever people and the world fail to act according to their selfish wishes, they are unhappy. Such a poisonous attitude prevents them from growing and learning how to cope with life's challenges.
6. Everything negative we say about ourselves to ourselves (self-talk) and to others is a suggestion. We are unwittingly practicing self-hypnosis, programing ourselves for failure, and creating self-fulfilling prophecies.
7. The negative world of our imagination creates a negative world that is real and one that we are forced to live in. Take Ralph, for example. He’s always complaining about life. “Nowadays people are rude and surly. No matter where you go or what you do, you have to deal with ill-bred people.” As he said this, we made our way to a coffee shop. Once inside, we were greeted by a cheerful chap who asked us what we would like. Sighing (as if it took a great effect to speak), Ralph, almost inaudibly, ordered a medium sized regular coffee. When it arrived, he started complaining. Pointing to the cup, he said, “This is medium?” Without waiting for a response, he added, “You should have told me your cups are so small; I would have ordered a large one if I knew.” Despite the long line that Ralph was holding up, the man behind the counter tried to be patient. Without complaint, he took away the small coffee and replaced it with a large one. As soon as it arrived, Ralph looked at it aghast and bellowed, “You call this regular? There’s not enough cream!” The man behind the counter, who only moments ago was cheerful was now upset and sarcastically replied, “Yes, for MOST people, this is regular, but if you INSIST, I’ll put in more cream. Perhaps next time you may want to ask for DOUBLE cream!” I was next, so I got my coffee and joined Ralph at the table. “See,” he told me, “what did I say to you? People are rude.” Yes, in Ralph’s world, people ARE rude, but what he does not realize is he makes them so.
8. A particularly pernicious effect of ‘negativitis’ is that it sets one up for the mentality of a victim. Those with a woe-is-me attitude sit around in misery, waiting to be rescued. But they wait in vain because no one can rescue them from their own attitude. They are the only ones who can change it. And until they do so, they are condemned to continue suffering.
9. Another adverse effect of negativity is that it sets one up for the magic-bullet-syndrome. That is, the victim of ‘negativitis’ spends their time looking for a quick, easy fix, when none exists. By denying a fundamental law of life that states anything worthwhile requires effort to achieve, they achieve nothing. They won’t make progress until they realize that nothing in life is free. They’ve got to be willing to do what it takes to get what they want.
10. Also, beware of the fact that negative people attract other complainers. Because those who live in a world of doom and gloom alienate others, they have no choice but to look for other negative people to associate with. They then feed off one another and get locked in a clique of losers.
11. The constant stress that flows from a negative attitude also saps one’s energy, focus, and motivation. It is hardly a formula for success.
12. Also of great concern is the fact that those who refuse to work on improving their negative attitude may slide into depression, self-pity, and hopelessness.
13. Additionally, negative people not only harm themselves; they harm the world. They cease to make a contribution to it. Instead of helping, they spread gloom and misery everywhere. If they insist on infecting others, why not infect them with laughter? If they must carry something contagious, why not carry a smile?
Imagine being in a small boat drifting in a river. And imagine being unaware that your boat has a motor. As long as you fail to use that motor you will be a captive of the river. You will be a prisoner without any control over your destination. Yet, the boat that we’re in does have a motor. We can use it to change course. That motor is our power of choice. All we have to do is choose to look for the good, for when we do so, that is all we will find!
by mabau sebastian,m.
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