Read the passage below and answer the questions as instructed:-
A driver in the army went through an experience that transformed his life. On one mission, he narrowly escaped death although all his companions got killed. Wondering about the purpose of his life he gave up his job in the army, returned to the native village in Maharashtra and worked actively as a community leader. His commitment to community upliftment and his efforts completely changed the face of his village for which he was awarded by the State government.
Attitudes towards various topics such as political, religious social group, occupation, national & other issues, are developed through _______ group.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Reference group
Option (1) Friends group — Incorrect. Friends can be one of the groups a person looks up to, but ‘friends group’ is not a factor of attitude formation in its own right. Attitudes on public issues are learnt from whichever groups set a person’s norms, which is what a reference group is.
Option (2) Media influence — Incorrect. Media-related influences work through information: television, the Internet and school books first strengthen the cognitive and affective components of attitudes. The media are not a group to which a person belongs.
Option (3) Family and school environment — Incorrect. Parents, other family members and later the school shape attitudes in the early years of life, through association, rewards and punishments, and modelling. Attitudes on political, religious, occupational and national issues come mainly from the groups whose norms a person follows.
Option (4) Reference group — Correct. Reference groups indicate to an individual the norms regarding acceptable behaviour and ways of thinking. Attitudes towards political, religious and social groups, occupations, national and other issues are often developed through them, especially at the beginning of adolescence, when it matters to feel that one belongs to a group.
NCERT (2025-26): “2. Reference Groups : … Reference groups indicate to an individual the norms regarding acceptable behaviour and ways of thinking. Thus, they reflect learning of attitudes through group or cultural norms. Attitudes towards various topics, such as political, religious and social groups, occupations, national and other issues are often developed through reference groups. Their influence is noticeable especially during the beginning of adolescence, at which time it is important for the individual to feel that s/he belongs to a group.…” |