Class 12 Psychology - GUJARAT

Attitude and Social Cognition

The chapter 'Attitude and Social Cognition' in Class 12 Psychology explores how we form impressions of others, understand their behavior, and develop attitudes toward various objects, people, and issues. Social cognition involves mental processes used to make sense of our social world, including schemas, attribution, and social perception. Attitudes refer to our enduring beliefs and feelings that influence our behavior. This chapter is vital for board exams as it bridges cognitive psychology and social behavior, frequently featuring application-based questions, case studies, and distinction-based inquiries that test students' conceptual clarity and real-world understanding.

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Key Concepts

Social Cognition

The mental processes by which we perceive, remember, and interpret information about our social world.

Schema

Mental structures or frameworks that help us organize and process social information efficiently.

Attribution

The process of assigning causes to our own and other people's behavior, categorized as internal or external.

Attitude

A state of the mind, set of views, or thoughts regarding a topic, comprising cognitive, affective, and behavioral components (the ABC components).

Cognitive Dissonance

A psychological state of discomfort experienced when two cognitions, or a cognition and a behavior, are inconsistent.

Important Formulas

ABC Components of Attitude: Affective (Emotional) + Behavioral (Actions) + Cognitive (Beliefs)
Attribution Types: Internal (Dispositional) Attribution vs. External (Situational) Attribution
Fundamental Attribution Error: Overestimating internal factors and underestimating situational factors when explaining others' behavior

Board Exam Info

In the Gujarat (GSEB) Class 12 Psychology board exam, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Questions frequently appear as short answers (2-3 marks) defining key terms like schemas and cognitive dissonance, as well as long-answer or case-based questions explaining attitude formation, change, and the components of the ABC model.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?

Prejudice is an attitude (usually negative feeling or belief) toward a group, while discrimination is the behavioral manifestation or unfair treatment resulting from that prejudice.

How can an attitude be changed?

Attitudes can be changed through persuasion, cognitive dissonance reduction, positive interaction between groups, and source credibility of the message.

What is the ABC model of attitude?

It stands for Affective (emotional feelings), Behavioral (actions towards the attitude object), and Cognitive (beliefs and knowledge) components that make up any attitude.

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