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