Attitudes

A predisposition to act in a particular way to something/one in environment Learned rather than innate Enduring once formed

• Socialisation • Past experiences • Religious beliefs • Media • Significant others / role models

• Beliefs (cognitive) • Emotions (affective) • Behaviour (behavioural)

• Cognitive element (knowing) • Formed through past experiences & learning from others • More likely to learn from significant others • E.g. running causes injury

• Affective element (feeling) • Reactions to an attitude object (like/dislike) • Depend on past experiences • More likely to look forwards to experience if previously positive • E.g. I don’t enjoy running

• Behavioural element (doing) • Not always consistent with attitudes • Know exercise is good and like it but don’t do much • More likely to behave in a way that reveals our attitude • E.g. I refuse to go running

Persuasive Communication Cognitive Dissonance

Important method in changing attitudes or an element of attitude

• Person doing persuading • Quality of message • Characteristics of person being persuaded

• High status (coach/teacher) • Fit themselves • Good communication/leadership skills

• Imbalance in your beliefs • When your attitude elements (ABC) don’t agree • For change in attitude to occur, one must experience 2/more opposing beliefs • Makes them feel in two minds

• Believe in value of exercise • Enjoy activities/competitions • Good at activity • Excitement from physical challenge • Relaxation and escape from stress (catharsis) • Participation a social norm

• Harmful and better of doing other activities • Dislike experiences involved • Lack physical/perceptual skills • Frightened of activity • Stress and anxiety when participate • Social norm non-participating

a belief held by a collection of people about traits shared by a certain category of person