Can you change attitude

For example, children spend a great deal of time observing the attitudes of their parents and usually begin to demonstrate similar outlooks.

We tend to assume that people behave according to their attitudes. However, social psychologists have found that attitudes and actual behavior are not always perfectly aligned. After all, plenty of people support a particular candidate or political party and yet fail to go out and vote.

People also are more likely to behave according to their attitudes under certain conditions. In some cases, people may actually alter their attitudes in order to better align them with their behavior. Cognitive dissonance is a phenomenon in which a person experiences psychological distress due to conflicting thoughts or beliefs. Imagine the following situation: You've always placed a high value on financial security, but you start dating someone who is very financially unstable.

In order to reduce the tension caused by the conflicting beliefs and behavior, you have two options. You can end the relationship and seek out a partner who is more financially secure, or you can de-emphasize fiscal stability importance. In order to minimize the dissonance between your conflicting attitude and behavior, you either have to change the attitude or change your actions.

While attitudes can have a powerful effect on behavior, they are not set in stone. The same influences that lead to attitude formation can also create attitude change.

Classical conditioning, operant conditioning, and observational learning can be used to bring about attitude change. Classical conditioning can be used to create positive emotional reactions to an object, person, or event by associating positive feelings with the target object.

Operant conditioning can be used to strengthen desirable attitudes and weaken undesirable ones. People can also change their attitudes after observing the behavior of others. This theory of persuasion suggests that people can alter their attitudes in two ways.

First, they can be motivated to listen and think about the message, thus leading to an attitude shift. Or, they might be influenced by the characteristics of the speaker, leading to a temporary or surface shift in attitude.

Messages that are thought-provoking and that appeal to logic are more likely to lead to permanent changes in attitudes. In order to reduce the tension created by these incompatible beliefs, people often shift their attitudes. Ever wonder what your personality type means? Sign up to find out more in our Healthy Mind newsletter.

Chaiklin, H. Attitudes, Behavior, and Social Practice. Perlovsky L. A challenge to human evolution—cognitive dissonance. Frontiers in Psychology. American Psychological Association. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellMind.

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We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Table of Contents View All. If so, these six tips can help your attitude get back on the winning path. A good attitude can become the difference maker in your life, opening doors and helping you overcome great obstacles.

Home About. Take responsibility. Taking responsibility for your attitude is the first step. Evaluate your present attitude. To start improving your attitude, first assess your current attitude. Identify negative feelings you have about yourself, others or your workplace that are affecting your attitude.

Develop the desire to change. Doing the same-old, same-old is depressing, even if your same-old has been successful in the past. Success is like athletics; if you don't stretch yourself every day , you gradually become slow and brittle.

While you naturally must make decisions and take action based upon the results you'd like to achieve, it's a big mistake to expect those results and then be disappointed when you don't get them. Take your best shot but don't obsess about the target. Rather than feeling bad if you fail or get rejected, look back at your actions and see what you can do if anything to improve your performances. Remember: the results you receive are the signposts for the results you want to achieve.

It's a scientific fact your brain automatically imitates the behaviors of the people around you. It's because of something called a mirror neuron.

Therefore, you should surround yourself with positive thinkers and shun those who are excessively negative. If you want to be happier and make those around you feel more comfortable, cultivate the ability to laugh at yourself.