Psychology Ch 6 (Part 1)

What does the cognitive aspect of an attitude refer to?

• Emotional feelings about the attitude object

• Thoughts and beliefs about the attitude object

• Actions performed towards the attitude object

• None of the above

Answer explanation

The cognitive aspect of an attitude refers to the thoughts and beliefs we hold about the attitude object, distinguishing it from emotional feelings and actions.

Which of the following is an example of the behavioural component of an attitude?

• Feeling happy seeing greenery

• Participating in a tree plantation campaign

• Believing that a green environment is important

• Being sad when trees are cut down

Answer explanation

The behavioural component of an attitude refers to actions taken based on that attitude. 'Participating in a tree plantation campaign' exemplifies this, as it involves active engagement in promoting a green environment.

What are the three components of an attitude as per the A-B-C model?

• Affection, Beliefs, and Centrality

• Affect, Behaviour, and Cognition

• Attitude, Behaviour, and Complexity

• Action, Beliefs, and Conformity

Answer explanation

The A-B-C model of attitudes consists of three components: Affect (emotional response), Behaviour (actions), and Cognition (thoughts and beliefs). Thus, the correct answer is Affect, Behaviour, and Cognition.

Which feature of attitudes refers to how positive or negative an attitude is?

• Centrality

• Extremeness

• Valence

• Simplicity

Answer explanation

The feature of attitudes that indicates how positive or negative an attitude is referred to as 'valence'. It captures the emotional direction of the attitude, distinguishing between favorable and unfavorable evaluations.

If someone has a belief in democracy, what does this represent?

• A value

• An attitude

• A belief

• A behavioural tendency

Answer explanation

Believing in democracy signifies a belief, as it reflects an individual's conviction about the value of democratic principles. This belief influences their perspective and understanding of governance.

What distinguishes a value from an attitude?

• Values are more action-oriented

• Values include a 'should' or 'ought' aspect

• Attitudes are harder to change

• Values do not have emotional components

Answer explanation

Values are fundamental beliefs that often include a 'should' or 'ought' aspect, guiding behavior and decision-making. In contrast, attitudes are more about feelings and evaluations, making the correct choice about values.

What property of attitudes determines the role of one attitude in influencing others within the same system?

• Simplicity

• Valence

• Centrality

• Complexity

Answer explanation

Centrality refers to how important an attitude is within a system. Attitudes with high centrality have a greater influence on other attitudes, making them key in determining the overall structure of beliefs.

An individual strongly opposes nuclear research but does not take any action regarding it. Which attitude component is weak?

• Affective

• Behavioural

• Cognitive

• Valence

Answer explanation

The individual opposes nuclear research (cognitive) and feels negatively about it (affective), but their lack of action indicates a weak behavioral component. Thus, the correct answer is 'Behavioural'.

What is indicated by the extremeness of an attitude?

• How central the attitude is in a system

• How strongly positive or negative the attitude is

• The number of attitudes in the attitude system

• The emotional intensity of the attitude

Answer explanation

The extremeness of an attitude reflects how strongly positive or negative it is. This indicates the intensity of feelings associated with the attitude, making the correct choice "How strongly positive or negative the attitude is."

Which of the following features of attitudes measures the number of attitudes within a broader attitude system?

• Centrality

• Simplicity or Complexity

• Valence

• Extremeness

Answer explanation

Simplicity or Complexity refers to the number of attitudes within a broader attitude system. A more complex system has more attitudes, while a simpler system has fewer, making this the correct choice.