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Summary

Ethics Class 06

## A BRIEF DISCUSSION OF THE PREVIOUS CLASS (5:04 P.M.)

## FUNCTIONS OF ATTITUDE (5:06 P.M.)

- Daniel Katz mentions that an individual holds some attitude because it serves one of the four purposes.
- **(a) Need Function**
- Every individual has a basic need i.e. to maximize pleasure and to reduce pain.
- It can also be interpreted as that one wants to maximize the rewards and reduce the punishments.
- Once, the attitude is formed it continues to satisfy the needs. Hence, this function is also known as the utilitarian function.
- For example, X develops a favourable attitude towards a social issue, as everyone around him is supporting it, and X wants to be a social fit.
- Y had a favorable attitude towards a political party because he believed that the party would serve his economic needs better.
- There are two doctors A and B. A has a favorable attitude towards branded medicines because they serve his economic needs better. On the other hand, B has a favorable attitude towards generic medicine as it serves his social needs better.
- To change the attitude, either the need is changed, or an alternative attitude is suggested that can serve the existing need better.
- For example, concerning reservation, we can provide options such as entrepreneurship, making agriculture lucrative, scholarships, skill development, creation of more jobs, etc.
- **(b) Knowledge Function**
- "Good things happen to good people. So, if something bad happens it means you are a bad person."
- This attitude helps the attitude holder to organize and interpret diverse sets of information.
- The knowledge function of the attitude doesn't imply that it is providing a factually truthful picture. However, it provides a picture that is meaningful to the individual as it helps to establish the cause of the event.
- For example,  obsession with a fair complexion leads to the development of an attitude that the white race is superior.
- Similarly, despite the eradication of manual scavenging, it persists leading to the development of the attitude that maybe these people have low IQ.
- Hence, the attitude can be changed if the counter-attitudinal information is provided on a sustainable basis.
- **(c) Ego Defensive**
- This attitude helps us to enhance our self-esteem and defend us against various arrows of life.
- It is referred to as the prejudiced attitude, which we often use to uplift our ego.
- This attitude prevents us from acknowledging the basic truth about ourselves.
- It is very difficult to change this attitude as it stems from an individual's personality.
- For example, blame culture, which is shifting the blame on others.
- The incidences of domestic violence are another example.
- Social media trolls, Corporal punishment for children, and the Son of Soil theory are yet another examples.
- To change this attitude we need to provide a conducive environment where the individual feels truly valued and agrees to lower their defenses.

## DISCUSSION ON QUESTION (5:55 P.M.)

- **Question:**
- "We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark, the real tragedy is when men are afraid of the light."- Plato. What do you understand by this statement? Justify with examples. (150 words/ 10 marks)
- **Approach:**
- One can use the following examples,
- (a) Kids stealing the candies, and adults indulging in the corruption.
- (b) An underdeveloped country with little funds and poor technology can still be forgiven for not having climate-resilient technologies. The real tragedy is when developed nations refuse to share the burden of climate change.
- (c) Similarly, an educated illiterate person practicing superstition can be forgiven. The real tragedy is when educated people indulge in superstition.

## FUNCTIONS OF ATTITUDE (CONTINUED)

- **(d) Value Expressive**
- This attitude helps to promote our self-esteem or exercise of impression management.
- This attitude helps us to communicate who we are and makes us feel good because we can assert our identity.
- For example, Insta bio profile, quotation on the t-shirt, status on WhatsApp, or expressing values through conduct.
- If X values freedom, his conduct would include promoting flexibility in work timing, encouraging constructive dissent, and promoting participative decision-making.
- This attitude can be changed only when the value system has changed, or an alternative attitude can express the existing values better.

## ATTITUDE-BEHAVIOUR (A-B) CONSISTENCY (6:20 A.M.)

- **Background**
- (a) X disapproved of cheating and hence, never cheated.
- (b) Y has a prejudice against a community hence, refuse to rent out the accommodation.
- (c) Z dislikes corrupt people, yet voted for the most corrupt person as he belonged to his community.
- Concerning two different attitudes, the behavior would be consistent with the attitude which is consistent with the thought process.
- Corey's study and La Pierre's study highlighted that attitude is not always consistent with behaviour.
- ==Corey's Study (1937)==
- According to this study, whether an individual cheats or not, doesn't depend on the attitude towards cheating.
- But rather on how poorly one has performed in the exam.
- Hence, behaviour is not always consistent with attitude.
- ==La Pierre's Study (1934)==
- This study was meant to establish racial biasedness concerning Chinese people in America.
- However, he found that behaviour is not always consistent with attitude.
- **Factors Influencing the Attitude-Behaviour Consistency**
- |  |  |  |
  | --- | --- | --- |
  | **Individual** | **Situations** | **Strength of Attitude** |
  | High on Self Monitoring. | Attitude as heuristics. | Attitude Relevance. |
  | Low on Self-Monitoring. | Bandwagon effect. | Attitude Specificity. |
  |  |  | Attitude Accessibility. |
  |  |  | How one has acquired the attitude. |
- ==Individual==
- (a) ==High on Self Monitoring==
- In the different situations with different people, they act like a different person.
- They are good at adapting to the situation, and hence, promote interpersonal harmony.
- However, many may consider them as fake.
- (b) ==Low on Self-Monitoring==
- Their behavior is usually an expression of their true feeling.
- They are rigid, and may not be able to present themselves in a socially desirable manner.
- ==Situations==
- (a) ==Attitude as heuristics==
- When there is information overload, and no time to plan, or to contemplate the behavior. In such cases, we act by whatever behavior we possess.
- For example, brand impact on behavior.
- (b) ==Bandwagon effect==
- It means the herd mentality.
- If one has an 'X' attitude, whereas others have a 'Y' attitude, and if those others are significant for him, then there is very little probability for attitude-behavior consistency.
- For example, Westernization, obsession with the English language, the culture of consumerism, etc.
- It also impacts voting behavior.
- The persistence of social evils like dowry, child marriage, untouchability, etc is because of the bandwagon effect.
- Similarly, when the norms are strong and are collectively held then everyone behaves similarly, irrespective of their attitude.
- For example, caste endogamy and sexual division of labour.
- ==Strength of Attitude==**(7:05 P.M.)**
- (a) ==Attitude Relevance==
- The A-B consistency is determined by the vested interest of the attitude holder concerning the attitude object.
- For example, in the context of blood donation, the consistency will depend upon who requires the blood.
- (b) ==Attitude Specificity==
- The specific attitude is stronger than the general attitude.
- For example, if one is religious, and how often one visits the religious shrine.
- Similarly, if one prefers cleanliness or one's opinion regarding the construction of household toilets.
- (c) ==Attitude Accessibility==
- The moment the attitude holder is exposed to the attitude object, and if the attitude is immediately accessible then it is strong and consistent with behavior.
- For example, attitude related to social issues. It might be positive, negative, or ambivalent.
- Ambivalent attitude refers to simultaneously holding both negative and positive attitudes.
- For example, one might enjoy the sensation of smoking, but at the same time realize that it is injurious to health.
- X believes that reservation helps strengthen democracy. However, its politicization has created the conflict in the society.
- (d) ==How one has acquired the attitude.== **(7:20 P.M.)**
- If the attitude is acquired due to direct exposure to the attitude object, then it is a strong attitude.
- For example, the attitude of victims concerning social evils.

## THE TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: SOCIAL INFLUENCE AND PERSUASION