Attitude and Social Cognition is a chapter in the CBSE Class 12 Psychology syllabus from Psychology. This chapter hub brings together revision notes, practice questions, worksheets, flashcards to help students learn, practice, and revise Attitude and Social Cognition effectively.
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NCERT Class 12 Psychology Chapter 6: Attitude and Social Cognition (Pages 104–119)
CBSE
Class 12
Psychology
Psychology
6
104–119
6 study resources
Download the Attitude and Social Cognition revision guide with key points, summaries, and quick revision notes for CBSE Class 12 Psychology.
Key Points
Definition of Attitudes
Attitudes are evaluative judgments about objects/people that influence behavior.
A-B-C Model of Attitudes
Attitudes consist of Affective (emotions), Behavioral (actions), and Cognitive (thoughts) components.
Valence of Attitudes
Valence indicates if an attitude is positive, negative, or neutral toward an object or person.
Extremeness of Attitudes
An attitude's extremeness varies from extreme positive/negative to neutral; affects behavior predictability.
Centrality vs. Peripheral Attitudes
Central attitudes are more significant in a person's belief system; they influence related attitudes strongly.
Attitude Formation
Attitudes form through mechanisms like association, reward/punishment, modeling, and cultural norms.
Role of Family and Schools
Family and educational environments significantly shape attitudes during formative years.
Cognitive Dissonance
Cognitive dissonance occurs when contradictory cognitions exist, leading individuals to change attitudes.
Fritz Heider's Balance Theory
Imbalance in triadic relationships (P-O-X) leads to attitude change for harmony.
Influence of Media
Media shapes attitudes through exposure to persuasive messages; can be beneficial or misleading.
Attitude-Behavior Consistency
Consistency occurs when attitudes strongly influence behavior, particularly when awareness exists.
Prejudice Explanation
Prejudice includes negative attitudes based on group stereotypes; can lead to discrimination.
Stereotypes and Attitudes
Stereotypes are cognitive beliefs that can underpin prejudicial attitudes toward certain groups.
Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
When societal prejudices influence a target group's behavior, confirming negative expectations.
Scapegoating
Scapegoating attributes a group's problems to a weaker outgroup, reinforcing negative attitudes.
Strategies for Reducing Prejudice
Education, intergroup contact, and highlighting individual identities can minimize prejudicial attitudes.
Congruent vs. Incongruent Change
Congruent changes align with existing attitudes; incongruent changes oppose them.
Two-Step Theory of Attitude Change
Involves identification with the source; change occurs when individuals mimic source's new attitude.
Role of External Pressures
External influences like social norms can pressure individuals to align behavior with attitudes.
Importance of Context in Attitude Change
Contextual factors, like social situations, heavily affect how and whether attitudes are modified.
Practice important questions and exam-style problems from Attitude and Social Cognition. These questions cover key topics from the CBSE Class 12 Psychology syllabus.
How to practice: Start with the questions below to test your understanding of Attitude and Social Cognition. Use the revision guide to review concepts you find difficult, then come back and retry the questions for better retention.
Which component of an attitude involves emotional responses?
What does the 'A-B-C' model of attitudes stand for?
How can attitudes influence behavior?
Which of the following best describes 'valence' in relation to attitudes?
What is one reason attitudes can be hard to change?
What might a 'complex' attitude feature?
Which term describes a negative attitude toward a group based on characteristics like race or gender?
What is the relationship between attitudes and behaviors, as suggested by social psychologists?
Which of the following illustrates the concept of 'attitude change'?
What does 'discrimination' refer to in social psychology?
What are attitudes primarily formed through?
In social psychology, what is the primary goal of studying attitudes?
What does cognitive dissonance refer to in the context of attitudes?
What can result from a strong attitude against a specific group?
Which component of an attitude includes feelings and emotions associated with an attitude object?
What does the cognitive aspect of an attitude primarily involve?
The tendency to act in a certain way toward an attitude object is defined as what?
Which term describes the positivity or negativity of an attitude?
What is an example of a belief that serves as a foundation for an attitude?
Which of the following scenarios best illustrates an inconsistency between the components of an attitude?
What feature of an attitude measures how central it is to a person’s self-concept?
What does the term 'Extremeness' refer to in attitudes?
In social psychology, an attitude can best be understood as a:
When someone feels happiness upon seeing a social service initiative, which component of their attitude is likely activated?
What might be a consequence of having a strong attitude toward an object?
When attitudes are not consistent across their components, what is this phenomena typically termed?
Which property of attitudes can be described as the ability to change over time?
When evaluating an attitude object, a person considers its pros and cons. This is part of which process?
What are attitudes typically defined as?
How are attitudes often formed through association?
Which component of attitudes refers to emotional responses?
What role do reference groups play in attitude formation?
In the context of attitude change, what does the term 'balance theory' refer to?
Which mechanism describes how prejudiced attitudes might be learned?
Which of the following best describes a 'self-fulfilling prophecy' in the context of prejudice?
What factor is most likely to lead to stable, long-term attitudes?
What does the complexity or simplicity of an attitude refer to?
Which approach is least effective in changing deeply ingrained prejudices?
Which statement is true regarding attitude change and the media?
According to the A-B-C components of attitudes, which is NOT one of the components?
Which concept explains the effect of surrounding social groups on individual attitudes?
Which approach focuses on reducing prejudices by encouraging positive contact between groups?
Education as a strategy for handling prejudice primarily aims to:
What is a significant barrier to reducing prejudice through education?
Which strategy focuses on minimizing opportunities for learning prejudices?
Which psychological effect describes the reinforcement of a stereotype based on targeted behavior?
What is the primary aim of intergroup contact theory?
The concept of ‘kernel of truth’ in prejudice suggests that:
Which intervention would best minimize prejudiced attitudes by challenging erroneous beliefs?
What is a characteristic of successful intergroup contact?
Reducing a narrow social identity may include which of the following strategies?
Which of the following could be an outcome of successful prejudice reduction strategies?
An intervention that encourages dialogue between diverse groups is primarily aimed at reducing:
How can reducing the tendency towards self-fulfilling prophecy be achieved?
Which of the following is a common misconception about prejudice?
Reducing prejudice through social identity alteration requires emphasizing:
What are the three components of an attitude as per the A-B-C model?
Which characteristic is most likely to lead to a change in attitude?
Why might an individual’s behavior not reflect their attitudes?
What can increase the likelihood of attitude change according to social psychology?
Which statement is true regarding attitudes and behavior?
Which of the following can be a barrier to attitude change?
How does cognitive consistency influence attitudes?
Which is an example of an attitude object?
What is 'social influence' in the context of attitude formation?
If someone shows a positive attitude but acts negatively, this can lead to what situation?
What approach is effective for changing someone’s attitude?
What is likely to happen when a person with low self-esteem encounters persuasive messages?
What role does emotional attachment play in attitudes?
In the context of attitude change, what effect does face-to-face communication have compared to media?
What is an intrinsic motivation in the context of attitude formation?
What is the primary component of prejudice?
Which of the following is an example of discrimination?
Stereotypes are primarily associated with which aspect of prejudice?
What is scapegoating?
Which factor can lead to the development of a prejudiced personality?
What role does a strong social identity play in prejudice?
The 'kernel of truth' concept refers to what aspect of attitude formation?
Which strategy is effective in reducing prejudice?
In the context of attitudes, what does the A-B-C model refer to?
When does a person’s behavior consistently align with their attitudes?
Which of these statements most accurately describes the relationship between prejudice and discrimination?
What is an example of self-fulfilling prophecy in the context of prejudice?
How can laws influence prejudice and discrimination?
Download and practice Attitude and Social Cognition worksheets to improve problem-solving accuracy and speed for CBSE Class 12 Psychology exams.
This worksheet covers essential long-answer questions to help you build confidence in Attitude and Social Cognition from Psychology for Class 12 (Psychology).
Questions
What is an attitude? Discuss its A-B-C components with examples.
An attitude is a psychological tendency expressed by evaluating a particular entity. The A-B-C components are: Affective (feelings related to the attitude), Behavioral (potential actions or responses), and Cognitive (beliefs or knowledge). For example, in a situation involving environmental issues, one might feel positively about conservation (A), may participate in tree planting (B), and hold the belief that plants are essential for life (C).
Explain the process of attitude formation with examples.
Attitude formation occurs through several mechanisms, including learning by association, reinforcement, modeling, and cultural norms. For instance, one may develop a positive attitude toward a subject due to praise from a teacher (reinforcement) or because their peers enjoy it (modeling). Cultural norms can also shape attitudes, such as valuing education highly in some cultures.
Discuss cognitive dissonance and its relevance to attitude change.
Cognitive dissonance occurs when a person holds contradictory beliefs or attitudes, causing discomfort that prompts a change in attitude. For example, if someone knows smoking is harmful yet smokes, they may quit smoking to resolve the dissonance. This theory highlights how internal conflicts can lead to attitude adjustments.
Define prejudice and discuss its components and implications.
Prejudice is an unfair negative attitude toward a group and its members. It contains cognitive (stereotypes), affective (emotions), and behavioral (discrimination) components. For example, a stereotype about a certain ethnic group may lead to negative feelings (A) and consequently discriminatory acts (B). Understanding these components is crucial for addressing societal issues.
What are the strategies for handling prejudice according to the chapter?
Strategies for handling prejudice include education, fostering intergroup contact, emphasizing individual identity over group identity, and challenging stereotypes. For instance, educational programs can dispel myths about specific groups, while intergroup activities can create shared goals, reducing prejudice.
Illustrate the attitude-behavior relationship and factors that influence it.
The attitude-behavior relationship suggests that strong, salient attitudes correlate with corresponding behaviors. Factors influencing this relationship include the importance of the attitude, social pressures, and personal relevance. For example, a strong environmental attitude may lead to recycling behavior unless social pressures discourage it.
Explain how media influences attitude formation and change.
Media plays a critical role in shaping and changing attitudes by providing information, changing perceptions through repeated exposure, and affecting behaviors through advertisements. For example, public health campaigns can shape positive attitudes toward vaccination through persuasive messaging.
Discuss the importance of reference groups in attitude formation.
Reference groups influence individual attitudes by providing norms and standards for behavior and attitudes. For instance, adolescents may adopt attitudes prevalent within their peer groups to gain acceptance, illustrating how social circles affect personal beliefs.
Describe the concept of balance theory in relation to attitudes.
Balance theory explains how individuals strive for consistency among their beliefs, attitudes, and perceptions. If an individual's attitudes about specific topics conflict, they are likely to change one attitude to restore harmony. An example would involve a person liking a friend who dislikes an activity they personally enjoy.
How can understanding values enhance the comprehension of attitudes?
Values are core beliefs that guide behavior and are closely linked to attitudes. Understanding values provides insight into why individuals hold specific attitudes toward issues such as honesty and hard work. For example, someone who values honesty will likely have negative attitudes toward lying.
This worksheet challenges you with deeper, multi-concept long-answer questions from Attitude and Social Cognition to prepare for higher-weightage questions in Class 12.
Questions
Explain the A-B-C components of attitudes and discuss their interrelationship. Provide examples.
The A-B-C components are Affective (feelings), Behavioral (actions), and Cognitive (beliefs). For instance, a positive attitude towards exercise can lead to feelings of happiness (A), engaging in workouts (B), and believing in its health benefits (C). Diagram: Triangular model showcasing A, B, and C with overlaps.
Compare Fritz Heider's balance theory with Leon Festinger's cognitive dissonance theory regarding attitude change.
Balance theory emphasizes consistency among attitudes about persons and objects (P, O, X triangle), while cognitive dissonance focuses on the discomfort of conflicting cognitions, leading to attitude adjustment. Example: Favoring a brand but facing adverse reviews may create tension, prompting a reassessment of views.
Discuss the various factors influencing attitude formation, citing specific examples for each factor.
Factors include family environment (early beliefs shaped by parents), reference groups (peer influence), personal experiences (traumatic events changing perceptions), and media exposure (advertising affecting beliefs). Example: Media portrayals can significantly shape public attitudes towards body image.
How does prejudice manifest in society? Discuss the cognitive and emotional components associated with prejudice, citing societal examples.
Prejudice often manifests as negative attitudes towards a group, justified through stereotypes (cognitive) and emotions like fear or hate (affective). Example: Racial profiling reflects cognitive (stereotype) and affective (fear) elements. Provide specific societal examples.
Explain the strategies for handling prejudice in communities and their potential effectiveness.
Strategies include educational programs to correct stereotypes, promoting intergroup dialogue, and emphasizing individual over group identities. Evidence suggests that direct interactions reduce biases. Example: Community workshops can foster understanding between divergent cultural groups.
Illustrate the relationship between attitudes and behavior using real-life scenarios. Discuss instances where this relationship might fail.
Attitudes generally predict behavior (e.g., an environmentalist recycling). Yet, contradictions occur (e.g., knowing fast food is unhealthy but still consuming it). Highlight situations where social pressure inhibits attitude-consistent behavior.
Discuss the effects of social media on attitude change. Analyze the mechanisms through which social media influences attitudes.
Social media can shape attitudes through exposure, peer influence, and targeted advertising. Mechanisms include the bandwagon effect (following trends) and echo chambers (reinforcing existing beliefs). Example: Viral campaigns can shift public opinion rapidly.
Evaluate the role of personal experiences in attitude change, providing examples of significant life events that shaped individual attitudes.
Significant life events (e.g., illness or travel) often reshape attitudes. For instance, a personal health scare could lead to a healthier lifestyle. Discuss how these transformative experiences lead to lasting attitude changes.
Analyze the importance of cultural norms in attitude formation. How do these norms shape an individual's beliefs and behaviors?
Cultural norms guide acceptable behaviors and attitudes within societies. They often dictate beliefs about roles, traditions, and practices. Example: Norms around gender roles can influence career choices and familial expectations.
Consider how advertising manipulates attitudes. Discuss specific techniques used in advertisements to influence consumer attitudes and behaviors.
Advertising uses emotional appeals, endorsements, and cognitive shortcuts (like slogans) to shape consumer attitudes. Examples include celebrity endorsements to create a favorable perception of products, utilizing fear or aspiration.
The final worksheet presents challenging long-answer questions that test your depth of understanding and exam-readiness for Attitude and Social Cognition in Class 12.
Questions
Evaluate the implications of cognitive dissonance in situations where individuals face contradictory beliefs and behaviors, such as a smoker who knows smoking is harmful.
Analyze the cognitive dissonance theory and discuss potential resolutions the individual might adopt, including changing beliefs or behaviors, with real-world examples.
Discuss the role of media in shaping societal attitudes and how it can lead to both positive and negative attitude changes, providing examples from current events.
Examine both persuasive campaigns that resulted in positive changes and those that perpetuated negative stereotypes, supported by case studies.
Examine how strong social identities influence in-group versus out-group attitudes and the ramifications of this on societal harmony.
Evaluate the concepts of ingroup bias and prejudice, using historical or contemporary examples to highlight conflicts or resolutions.
Analyze how attitudes can be changed through the understanding of group norms, especially in regard to climate change initiatives.
Discuss the effectiveness of community-level interventions and education, citing examples of behavioral changes linked to shifting norms.
Critically evaluate the balance theory by Fritz Heider, exploring how it relates to interpersonal relationships and the potential for attitude change.
Use diagrams to illustrate balance and imbalance scenarios, discussing how these dynamics affect real-life relationships.
Assess the impact of childhood experiences, including parental attitudes, on the development of prejudices in adulthood.
Investigate how early socialization shapes attitudes and beliefs, drawing connections to subsequent behavior in social contexts.
Evaluate an example of a successful campaign that transformed public attitudes towards a social issue, applying the concepts of cognitive consistency and the two-step concept.
Break down the campaign into its strategies, identifying key messages and changes in audience perceptions.
Analyze the complexity of attitudes towards public health directives during a crisis, such as a pandemic, and discuss strategies to enhance public compliance.
Examine factors contributing to resistance or acceptance of health guidelines, citing strategies that have been effective in changing public attitudes.
Investigate how the kernel-of-truth concept affects stereotypes and prejudices, considering psychological and sociological perspectives.
Explore the implications of believing stereotypes for individuals and groups, emphasizing the need for critical thinking.
Explore the interplay between personal experiences and societal attitudes in shaping an individual's views on a controversial topic.
Delve into how personal stories and societal narratives intersect and influence attitudes toward the topic, backed with examples.
Explore how attitudes are formed and changed, their components, and their relationship with social behavior in this detailed chapter on psychology.
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