Attitude and Attitude change:

Attitude is a person's beliefs about themselves or other people. Attitude can influence how
people see themselves or other people. For example, when someone has a positive attitude
towards their work or school work, they are more likely to get good grades than someone who
doesn't have a positive attitude towards their work or school work. (Aronson, 1969)

In order for someone to change their attitude, they need to be aware of what they are thinking or
feeling when they are doing something. For example, if someone has an angry thought about
someone else, then this thought will influence their behaviour in order to show that person how
angry they are with them.

Statement or Argument:

Our attitudes are often the result of our beliefs and values, and can be shaped by our experiences.
By being aware of our attitudes, we can make choices about whether or not we want to keep
them. Ultimately, the goal is to be open-minded and allow ourselves to change over time.

 It is widely accepted that our attitudes influence our thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
Attitudes are often the result of our beliefs and values, and can be shaped by our
experiences, the people around us, and the media. Because they play such a big role in
our lives, it is important to be aware of our attitudes and how they might be affecting us.
It is also important to be open to changing our attitudes if we feel they are no longer
serving us in a positive way.
 There are a number of ways to change our attitudes. We can use reason and logic to
examine our beliefs and values and see if they still hold up. We can also look at new
evidence or information that might contradict our existing beliefs. We can also seek out
new experiences that might challenge our current way of thinking. Ultimately, the goal is
to be open-minded and to allow ourselves to grow and change over time. (Cooper, 2007)
 It is important to remember that our attitudes are not set in stone. We have the power to
change them if we want to. By being aware of our attitudes and how they influence our
thoughts, feelings and behaviours, we can make choices about whether or not we want to
keep them.
 

Attitude and attitude change can be a powerful tool in influencing thoughts, feelings and
behaviours. By understanding and utilising the principles of attitude and attitude change,
individuals can create significant and lasting changes in their lives. Attitude can be defined as a
way of thinking, feeling or behaving that reflects a person's values, beliefs and opinions. It is a
person's general orientation or set-point in life, and can be positive or negative. (Festinger, 1959)

Attitude change occurs when a person's attitude is altered in some way. This can happen through
a variety of means, such as education, persuasion, or even coercion. Attempts have been made by
a variety of different schools of thought to explain how and why attitudes shift over time. The
most prominent of these is the Cognitive Dissonance Theory, which states that people experience
a state of tension or discomfort when their attitudes and behaviours are not in alignment.

In order to reduce this discomfort, they will change their attitudes to match their behaviours. The
Social Influence Theory posits that people's attitudes are shaped by the people around them. This
can happen through direct pressure, such as peer pressure, or indirectly, through media messages
or social norms. The Self-Perception Theory suggests that people's attitudes are based on their
own observations of their own behaviours. If they see themselves as behaving in a certain way,
they will come to believe that they must have the corresponding attitude. (Schwartz, 2004)

The Theory of Planned Behaviour posits that people's attitudes are based on their intentions to
behave in a certain way. If they have a strong intention to behave in a certain way, they are more
likely to have a corresponding attitude. Each of these theories has some validity in explaining
how and why attitudes change. However, it is likely that a combination of all of these factors
contributes to attitude change. There are a number of techniques that can be used to change
attitudes.

The most common and effective of these is education. By providing accurate and complete
information about a topic, individuals can change their attitudes to be more informed and
accurate. Persuasion is another technique that can be used to change attitudes. This involves
using arguments and evidence to convince someone to change their attitude. This can be a
difficult task, as people are often resistant to change. (Steele, 1988)

Coercion is a less common but more forceful method of changing attitudes. This involves using
threats or force to make someone change their attitude. This is generally not considered to be an
ethical or effective way of changing attitudes. Overall, attitude and attitude change can be a
powerful tool in influencing thoughts, feelings and behaviours. By understanding and utilising
the principles of attitude and attitude change, individuals can create significant and lasting
changes in their lives.
References

Aronson, E. (1969). The theory of cognitive dissonance: A current perspective. In L. Berkowitz

(Ed.). Advances in experimental social psychology. New Yor: Academic Press.
Bem, D. J. ((1965)). An experimental analysis of self-persuasion. Journal of Experimental
Social Psychology, 199–218.
Cooper, J. M. (2007). Cognitive dissonance: 50 years of a classical theory. Thousand Oaks, CA:
Sage, 340-450.
Festinger, L. &. (1959). Cognitive consequences of forced compliance. Journal of Abnormal and
Social Psychology, 203–210.
Schwartz, B. (2004). The paradox of choice: Why more is less. New York: HarperCollins
Publishers.
Steele, C. M. (1988). The psychology of self-affirmation: Sustaining the integrity of the self.
Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 261–302.