CBSE Class 12 Psychology NCERT Solutions: Chapter 6 Attitude and Social Cognition

Solution: An attitude can be defined as a state of mind or a set of views, thoughts, or ideas held by an individual concerning a particular topic. These views possess an evaluative quality, meaning they can be positive, negative, or neutral. Attitudes are generally considered relatively stable predispositions that influence how we perceive and react to the world around us.

The components of an attitude are often described using the A-B-C model:

1. Cognitive Component: This refers to the thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge an individual possesses about the attitude object. It is the 'thinking' aspect of the attitude.
2. Affective Component: This component involves the emotions and feelings associated with the attitude object. It represents the 'feeling' aspect of the attitude.
3. Behavioural (Conative) Component: This is the tendency or predisposition to act in a certain way towards the attitude object. It represents the 'acting' aspect, though attitudes themselves are not direct behaviours but rather inclinations.

It is important to note that while these components are interconnected, attitudes themselves are internal states comprising cognition and emotion, which may not always be directly observable from external behaviour.

Solution: Yes, attitudes are predominantly learned rather than being innate. They are acquired through various learning processes and experiences throughout an individual's life.

The formation of attitudes involves several key learning mechanisms:

1. Learning through Association (Classical Conditioning): This occurs when a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a stimulus that naturally evokes a response. Over time, the neutral stimulus alone can evoke a similar response. For example, a student might develop a positive attitude towards a subject if they consistently associate it with a likeable teacher or positive classroom experiences.
2. Learning through Reward and Punishment (Instrumental Conditioning): In this process, attitudes that are systematically rewarded by significant others (like parents, friends, or teachers) tend to be strengthened and adopted. Conversely, attitudes that lead to negative outcomes or punishment are less likely to be formed or maintained.
3. Observational Learning: Individuals, especially children, learn many attitudes by observing the behaviour of others, such as parents, family members, or role models. They imitate the attitudes and behaviours they witness, particularly if those behaviours are perceived as socially approved or lead to positive outcomes for the observed person.
4. Learning through Exposure to Information: Attitudes can also be formed through exposure to information from various sources like print media, electronic media, and biographies. This exposure, even without direct interaction, can shape beliefs and feelings about people, groups, or issues.
5. Learning through Group or Cultural Norms: Societies and cultural groups have unwritten rules of behaviour (norms). Adopting these norms, such as participating in religious rituals or following social customs, can lead to the development of positive attitudes towards them as they are seen as socially approved behaviours.

Solution: Several factors significantly influence the formation of an individual's attitudes, providing the context for the learning processes described earlier:

1. Family and School Environment: Parents and family members play a crucial role in shaping early attitudes through direct teaching, modelling, and reinforcement. Similarly, the school environment, including teachers and peers, contributes significantly to attitude formation through association, rewards, and observation.
2. Reference Groups: These are groups to which individuals compare themselves or aspire to belong. Reference groups provide norms and standards for behaviour and thinking, influencing attitudes towards social issues, occupations, political ideologies, and more. Institutions, communities, and religious groups can act as reference groups.
3. Personal Experiences: Direct, impactful personal experiences can lead to the formation or drastic change of attitudes. A significant positive or negative encounter with a person, place, or situation can shape one's views more profoundly than indirect learning.
4. Media Related Influences: Modern technological advances have made audio-visual media, the internet, and even school textbooks powerful sources for attitude formation. The media can shape consumerist attitudes, political views, and social perceptions, exerting both positive and negative influences.

Solution: No, an individual's behaviour is not always a direct or consistent reflection of their attitude. There can be situations where behaviour contradicts one's underlying attitudes.

Psychologists have identified conditions under which attitude and behaviour are more likely to be consistent:

1. Attitude Strength: When an attitude is strong, deeply held, and central to an individual's belief system, it is more likely to guide behaviour.
2. Awareness of Attitude: People are more likely to act in line with their attitudes when they are consciously aware of them.
3. Absence of Social Pressure: Behaviour is more likely to reflect attitude when the individual is not being observed or evaluated by others, reducing the influence of social desirability.
4. Perceived Positive Consequences: If a person believes their behaviour will lead to positive outcomes, they are more likely to act in accordance with their attitude.

Example: La Piere's Study

A classic study by Richard La Piere illustrated this inconsistency. He accompanied a Chinese couple as they travelled across the United States, staying in various hotels and establishments. They were only refused service once. However, when La Piere later sent questionnaires to the managers of these same establishments asking if they would accommodate Chinese guests, a very large percentage stated they would not. This revealed a negative attitude towards Chinese guests among the managers, which was inconsistent with the positive behaviour they had actually shown to the travelling couple. This study highlights that attitudes may not always accurately predict actual patterns of behaviour.