Author Question: In general, what is an attitude? Provide an example of an attitude toward some person or thing, and ... (Read 89 times)

swpotter12 · **on:** Jun 22, 2018

In general, what is an attitude? Provide an example of an attitude toward some person or thing, and identify the affective, cognitive, and behavioral components of that attitude.

What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

An attitude can exist at two levels: implicit and explicit. Define an attitude at each level and explain the distinctions between the two.

What will be an ideal response?

heinisk01 · **Reply #1 on:** Jun 22, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: An attitude is viewed by most social psychologists as an enduring positive or negative evaluation of a person, object, or idea. Note: Any example will do so long as the example involves an enduring positive or negative evaluation. An affective component must address emotional reactions or feelings such as fear, excitement, pleasure, distrust; a cognitive component must address beliefs about or knowledge we hold about the target of the attitude; a behavioral component must address how an actor behaves in response to the target of the attitude.

Answer to Question 2

Answer: Explicit attitudes are conscious, and can easily be reported. Implicit attitudes are involuntary, uncontrollable, and even unconscious. These types of attitudes are different in that one is easily detectable and the other is not. Both can influence behavior, but usually implicit attitudes influence behaviors people do not try to control, such as showing nervousness around an outgroup member.