Attitude

Question 1

What is attitude?

Answer 1

• ‘Ideas charged with emotion that produce specific behaviour to a specific situation.’
• A value aimed at an object.
• Also referred to a mental and neural state of readiness towards an attitude object.

Question 2

Attitudes are:

Answer 2

• Unstable
• Learned
• Changed
• Directed towards an object
• Cognitive thoughts
• Emotional feelings
• Behvaioural responses

Question 3

How are attitudes formed?

Answer 3

• Through socialisation which is the process where cultural values are learnt by associating with others.
• We learn from significant others when the information is reinforced/repeated.
• They are conditioned by behaviour that is successful and reinforced - praise will develop a positive attitude between coach and player.
• This can be negative if the behaviour learnt is negative or is the reinfocement is negative - praise for cheating behaviour.

Question 4

What is the Triadic Model?

Answer 4

There are three parts:
- Cognitive: your beliefs, knowledge and thoughts - e.g., belief in exercise benefits.
- Affective: your feelings or emotional responses - e.g., enjoying training.
- Behavioural: your actions or intended behaviour - e.g., training 3x/w.

Question 5

What affects the learning of attitudes?

Answer 5

• Familiarisation
• Influence of role models and significant others
• Experiences
• Beliefs
• Conditioned behaviour

Question 6

What are the two types of attitude change?

Answer 6

Cognitive dissonance
Persuassive communication

Question 7

What is cognitive dissonance?

Answer 7

• A challenge to existing beliefs causing “disharmony” in an individual and a motivation to change attitudes.
• New information given to the performer to cause unease and motivate change.

Question 8

Define dissonance.

Answer 8

• To create conflict/disharmony to the player.
• This is settled when attitudes are aligned and discomfort/conflict is resolved.

Question 9

How can cognitive dissonance be used?

Answer 9

• A coach may talk about a new method of training or type of strategy to challenge their current thinking.
• Making the activity fun or varying practice can make the situation more engaging than expected thus changing opinion.
• Using rewards to promote positive behaviour.
• Bring in a specialist role model from another area to promote the topic.

Question 10

What is persuasive communication?

Answer 10

A method involving changing an attitude by applying verbal persuasion.

Question 11

What factors have to be taken into consideration to alllow successful persuasive communication?

Answer 11

• Message needs to be understood
• Quality new information
• Situation/timing of message is important
• New information must outweigh old beliefs allowing for change
• Message given should be from someone of high status or a role model to have an effect
• The individual may be resistant to change

Question 12

How can negative attitudes be changed into positive attitudes?

Answer 12

• Persuasive from a ‘perceived expert’
• Making it fun when training
• Allowing early access
• Using positive reinforcement and rewards
• Pointing out the benefits of exercise
• Using role models
• Cognitive dissonance