Class 12 Psychology - ISC
Attitudes
The chapter 'Attitudes' in Class 12 ISC Psychology explores how mental states influence our behavior towards people, objects, and situations. You will learn the structural ABC model (Affective, Behavioral, Cognitive components), the famous A-B consistency principle, and how attitudes are formed and changed through cognitive dissonance and persuasion. This chapter is highly scoring in ISC board exams, frequently featuring application-based questions, case studies on prejudice, and direct theoretical queries regarding attitude change and measurement techniques like Bogardus' scale.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
ABC Component Model of Attitudes
Attitudes consist of three components: Affective (emotional feelings), Behavioral (actions towards the object), and Cognitive (thoughts and beliefs).
Cognitive Dissonance
Proposed by Leon Festinger, it is a state of mental discomfort experienced when a person holds two or more contradictory beliefs or acts in a way contrary to their attitudes.
A-B (Attitude-Behavior) Consistency
The degree to which a person's attitude predicts their actual behavior; attitudes predict behavior best when the attitude is strong, specific, and accessible.
Prejudice and Discrimination
Prejudice is a pre-conceived negative attitude (affective) towards a group, while discrimination is the actual negative behavior enacted against that group.
Persuasion and Attitude Change
The process through which attitudes are modified using communication, depending heavily on the source characteristics, message characteristics, and target audience.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the ISC Class 12 Psychology exam, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Questions frequently include short-answer questions defining cognitive dissonance, distinguish-between questions (like prejudice vs. discrimination), and application-based case studies where students must suggest strategies for attitude change.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do attitudes always predict behavior?
No, A-B consistency is not always high. Attitudes predict behavior only under certain conditions, such as when the attitude is strong, central, based on personal experience, and when there is little social pressure to act otherwise.
What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?
Prejudice is an attitude (usually negative feelings and beliefs about a group), whereas discrimination is the behavioral component (unfair actions or treatment directed against that group based on prejudice).
How can negative attitudes or prejudices be reduced?
Prejudices can be reduced through education, intergroup contact under favorable conditions, highlighting common goals (superordinate goals), and media influence promoting positive portrayals.
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