Class 12 Psychology - PUNJAB
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 people, objects, and issues. Social cognition involves the mental processes we use to make sense of our social world through schemas, stereotypes, and attribution. Attitudes are learned predispositions to respond in a particular way and consist of the ABC components (Affective, Behavioral, Cognitive). You will also study how attitudes change and the phenomenon of cognitive dissonance. This is a high-scoring chapter for PSEB board exams with direct conceptual and application-based questions.
Start Learning FreeKey Concepts
Attitude
A state of the mind, a set of views, or thoughts regarding some topic (called the attitude object), having three components: Affective, Behavioral, and Cognitive (the ABC components).
Social Cognition
The process through which we interpret, analyze, remember, and use information about the social world, heavily influenced by mental shortcuts called schemas.
Attribution
The process of assigning causes to people's behavior, which can be internal (dispositional) or external (situational).
Cognitive Dissonance
A psychological state of discomfort arising from holding two or more contradictory cognitions simultaneously, proposed by Leon Festinger.
Stereotype
An uncritical and generalized belief about a particular group of people that can lead to prejudice and discrimination.
Important Formulas
Board Exam Info
In the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) Class 12 Psychology exam, this chapter typically carries around 6 to 8 marks. Questions usually include 1-mark objective questions, 2-mark short answers (like defining schemas or cognitive dissonance), and 4-mark application-based questions explaining attitude change or the ABC components.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between prejudice and discrimination?
What are the ABC components of attitude?
Can attitudes be changed? How?
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