Who proposed the two-step concept in the context of attitude change?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → S. M. Mohsin
Option (1) Leon Festinger — Incorrect. Festinger proposed cognitive dissonance: when two thoughts in an attitude clash, one of them changes to restore consonance.
Option (2) S. M. Mohsin — Correct. The Indian psychologist proposed the two-step concept. First, the target (the person whose attitude is to change) identifies with the source, that is, likes and respects the person bringing the change. Second, the source changes her or his own attitude, and the target, out of that regard, changes too.
Option (3) Fritz Heider — Incorrect. Heider proposed the balance concept, shown as the P-O-X triangle: an attitude changes when the three links between the person, another person and the attitude object are out of balance.
Option (4) Gordon Allport — Incorrect. Allport is known for his trait theory of personality (cardinal, central and secondary traits); he proposed no concept of attitude change.
Note 1: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 16-05-2025 (Slot 1).
Note 2: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 15-05-2026 (Slot 1).
NCERT (2025-26): “Process of Attitude Change … (a) The concept of balance, proposed by Fritz Heider is sometimes described in the form of the ‘P-O-X’ triangle, which represents the relationships between three aspects or components of the attitude.…” “(b) The concept of cognitive dissonance was proposed by Leon Festinger. It emphasises the cognitive component.…” “(c) The two-step concept was proposed by S.M. Mohsin, an Indian psychologist. According to him, attitude change takes place in the form of two steps.…” |