Topic– Attitude: content, structure, function; its influence and relation with thought and behaviour; moral and political attitudes; social influence and persuasion.
7) What are the functions performed by our attitudes, as outlined by Katz. Discuss.(250 words)
Directive word
Discuss- this is an all-encompassing directive which mandates us to write in detail about the key demand of the question. we also have to discuss about the related and important aspects of the question in order to bring out a complete picture of the issue in hand.
Key demand of the question.
The question wants us to write in detail about the functions performed by our attitudes, as outlined by Daniel Katz in 1960.
Structure of the answer
Introduction– write a few introductory lines about the meaning of attitude. E.g “it is a psychological tendency that is expressed by evaluating a particular entity with some degree of favor or disfavor”
Body-
Discuss the functions performed by an attitude, as outlined by Katz-Knowledge, Expressive, Adaptive and Ego-defensive functions. e.g
- Attitudes provide meaning (knowledge) for life. The knowledge function refers to our need for a world which is consistent and relatively stable.
- The attitudes we express (1) help communicate who we are and (2) may make us feel good because we have asserted our identity.Therefore, our attitudes are part of our identify, and help us to be aware through the expression of our feelings, beliefs and values.
- Attitudes then, are to do with being apart of a social group and the adaptive functions helps us fit in with a social group. People seek out others who share their attitudes, and develop similar attitudes to those they like.
- The ego-defensive function refers to holding attitudes that protect our self-esteem or that justify actions that make us feel guilty. For example, one way children might defend themselves against the feelings of humiliation they have experienced in P.E. lessons is to adopt a strongly negative attitude to all sports.
Conclusion- based on your discussion, form a fair and a balanced conclusion on the given issue.
