Identify the factors that influence attitude formation.
(A) Family and School Environment
(B) Message Characteristics
(C) Personal Experiences
(D) Target Characteristic
(E) Media-related influences
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (C), (E) only
Attitudes are formed through learning, and certain factors provide the context for that learning.
(A) Family and School Environment Correct. In the early years of life parents and other family members play a significant role in shaping attitudes; later the school environment becomes an important background for attitude formation.
(B) Message Characteristics Incorrect. The message is the information presented in order to bring about an attitude change, and its amount and appeal (rational or emotional) matter there. It is a factor of attitude change, not of attitude formation.
(C) Personal Experiences Correct. Many attitudes are formed through direct personal experiences that bring about a drastic change in one’s attitude towards people and life, like the army driver who escaped death and turned to community work.
(D) Target Characteristic Incorrect. Qualities of the target, such as persuasibility, strong prejudices, self-esteem and intelligence, decide how likely a person is to change an attitude. This too belongs to attitude change.
(E) Media-related influences Correct. Audio-visual media, the Internet and even school texts are powerful sources of information that lead to attitude formation and change.
NCERT (2025-26): “Factors that Influence Attitude Formation … The following factors provide the context for the learning of attitudes through the processes described above. 1. Family and School Environment : Particularly in the early years of life, parents and other family members play a significant role in shaping attitude formation. Later, the school environment becomes an important background for attitude formation. Learning of attitudes within the family and school usually takes place by association, through rewards and punishments, and through modelling.…” “Factors that Influence Attitude Formation … 3. Personal Experiences : Many attitudes are formed, not in the family environment or through reference groups, but through direct personal experiences which bring about a drastic change in our attitude towards people and our own life.…” “Factors that Influence Attitude Formation … 4. Media-related Influences : Technological advances in recent times have made audio-visual media and the Internet very powerful sources of information that lead to attitude formation and change.…” |