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Attitude Formation: Meaning, Process, Methods and Examples

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Attitude Formation: Meaning, Process, Methods and Examples

Attitude formation is the process through which individuals develop favourable or unfavourable evaluations of persons, objects, ideas, institutions or situations.

Ways Through Which Attitudes Are Formed

  • Direct Experience: Attitudes develop through personal interaction with a person, object, institution or situation. 
    • A citizen who experiences harassment at a government office may develop a negative attitude towards public administration. 
  • Classical Conditioning: Attitudes develop when an object, person or idea becomes associated with a pleasant or unpleasant experience. 
    • A student may develop a positive attitude towards a subject when it is consistently associated with an encouraging teacher and enjoyable classroom experiences. 
  • Operant Conditioning: Attitudes develop through rewards, punishments, approval or disapproval. 
    • A civil servant who receives recognition for promptly resolving citizens’ grievances may develop a more favourable attitude towards responsive public service. 
  • Observational Learning: Attitudes develop by observing the behaviour and expressed opinions of parents, teachers, peers, leaders or other role models.
    • A junior officer who observes a senior treating citizens respectfully may develop a positive attitude towards public service.
    • A child who observes parents treating people from all communities respectfully may develop a positive attitude towards social equality. 
  • Verbal Learning: Attitudes develop through information, advice, instructions and opinions communicated by other people. 
    • A teacher explaining the importance of gender equality may help students develop a favourable attitude towards equal opportunities. 
  • Mere Exposure: Repeated exposure to a person, object or idea may increase familiarity and influence attitudes towards it. 
    • Repeated exposure to advertisements for a product may create a favourable attitude towards it, even when the viewer has never used it. 

Sample Mains Questions

1.What is attitude formation? Explain the different ways through which attitudes are formed, with suitable examples. (150 Words, 10 Marks)

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