A health talk on junk food brought about attitude change in many students, mainly because it was given by a well-known doctor whom they trusted. Which of the following best explains this result?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → A characteristic of the source
Option (1) A characteristic of the source — Correct. The doctor who gives the talk is the source. Source credibility is a source characteristic, and attitudes change more when a highly credible source gives the message.
Option (2) A characteristic of the target — Incorrect. The target is the person whose attitude is to be changed, here the students. Their own features, such as persuasibility, are not what the question names as the reason.
Option (3) A characteristic of the message — Incorrect. The message is the information given, such as its amount or its rational or emotional appeal. The result is put down to who gave the talk.
Option (4) Cognitive dissonance in the students — Incorrect. Cognitive dissonance is the discomfort felt when two cognitions do not fit together, which pushes a person to change one of them. Here the change came from trust in the speaker.
NCERT (2026-27): “Factors that Influence Attitude Change … |