Attitudes and Behavior in Psychology - Thesis Example

Attitudes Attitude is an integral concept in social psychology. “In academic psychology parlance, attitudes are positive or negative views of an "attitude object": a person, behavior, or event” (Wikipedia). More technically speaking, attitudes are considered to be learned evaluative reactions that describe the approach of people upon issues. These reactions may be primarily divided into three components, namely: (a) Affective – in which the evaluation of the attitude object is done. For an attitude to be formulated against anything, an initial evaluation has to take place.

In this, impressions are formed about the subject, and an analysis about the possible reaction towards it is estimated.(b) Behavioral – which deals with action towards the attitude object. This is the execution of the attitude; the means through which a third party may administer or observe what the reaction has been. It is imperative to discuss the reaction component differently, because not all initial assumptions about attitude may yield the same result.(c) Cognitive – where beliefs about the attitude object are ascertained.

Any prior experiences, or learned behavior in the same context is likely to influence the process of attitude formation. These beliefs are not only crucial in the context of the issue at hand, but they also become the basis and foundations for future attitude formulations.Attitudes show their effect in various ways. There are circumstances wherein a person may feel positively or negatively about a subject. At the same time, states of ‘ambivalence’ may enable a person to maintain both views simultaneously.

Additional concepts in social attitude formation are also integral to the lucid understanding of the said concept. One of these involves the theory of ‘cognitive dissonance’. “It is a state that presents a state of opposition between cognitions” (Wikipedia). The primary belief that is purported by this school of thought is that conflicting ideation, emotions and conditions force the human being to seek a condition of equilibrium, and in a way speeds up the decision making process as far as concluding upon a certain attitude is concerned.

These conflicts, therefore, ironically form the way towards conflict resolution once the mind has decided upon which stance to maintain.Another concept is that of self-perception. Wikipedia states that “It asserts that we only have that knowledge of our own behavior and its causation that another person can have, and that we therefore develop our attitudes by observing our own behavior and concluding what attitudes must have caused them.” This therefore concerns more with the person-centered approach, wherein the concerned individual comes to a plausible answer after introspection of the ‘self’s’ behavior.

It is argued that since this is the only source of attitude formation available to the person, hence all such impression come as a consequence of how a person views himself.Yet another concept worth the mention is that of social judgments. This talks about the limits of endurance and adjustment. “These effects show that the most effective position to advocate for changing anothers attitude judgment is the most extreme position within that persons "latitude of acceptance," within which assimilation effects will make your position seem more like their own” (Wikipedia).

After this would be the saturation point, wherein it would be practically impossible for both parties to come together at the same point of reference. Thus, by defining such limits, attitudes are coined within an individual.In all, attitudes remain a core component of study in social behavior. It is integral to identify with the fact, that optimal appreciation of attitude formulation dynamics is a must to be able to understand social behavior. ReferenceWikipedia. Attitudes. 13 Dec 2005..