In this corner, we have Attitudes - defined by dictionary.com as a “manner, disposition, feeling, position, etc., with regard to a person or thing; tendency or orientation, especially of the mind: a negative attitude; group attitudes.” The crowd is cheering for attitude.
In the opposite corner, we have Behaviors - defined as an “action or reaction that occurs in response to an event or internal stimuli.” The cheers from the crowd lead me to believe they like behavior as well.
When putting these two in the ring together how will behavior and attitudes act towards each other? Will this be a good match, will they be congruent, or will behavior cower and do what attitude bullies him to do? Better yet, will behavior be its own intimidator and do what it wants, when it wants? What will be the affects in this battle tonight? Who has the upper hand and who will win this match? Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s get ready to rumble!
Attitude takes the first punch as we look at our textbook, which defines attitude as evaluative statements of judgments concerning objects, people or events. If we break that down a little more we could simple put it attitude is a feeling, belief or opinion. Various researchers and our text departmentalizes attitudes into three general components, those being cognitive (emotional), affective (feelings), and behavioral (actions.) That is a low blow to behavior; it looks like he does not stand chance in this fight, as he is a core ingredient of attitude.
Attitude continues to jab at behavior. It appears the association between behavior and attitude’s most powerful moderator is found on the importance of the attitude and is a direct manifestation of a person’s fundamental values. The stronger or more important those individual’s values and attitude the stronger or more specific the behavior is regarding that attitude. Oh, another fine move for attitude.
Those cognitive components in attitude