Meera is fond of her colleague Anjali, and Anjali likes Meera too. Anjali strongly supports organic farming, but Meera thinks organic farming is a waste of money. Both of them know about this difference. Meera's cousin Suresh has read that smoking causes lung cancer, which is fatal. Yet he smokes every day. Holding both ideas together makes him uneasy. He often finds himself thinking about it while lighting a cigarette.
Which idea links the attitude changes expected in Meera and in Suresh?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Cognitive consistency: elements of an attitude must be in the same direction
Option (1) Two-step concept: a target imitates the changed behaviour of a source — Incorrect. Mohsin's two-step concept needs a source who changes first and a target who imitates. Neither Meera nor Suresh is copying anyone's changed behaviour.
Option (2) Cognitive consistency: elements of an attitude must be in the same direction — Correct. Meera faces imbalance (Heider) and Suresh faces dissonance (Festinger). Both are forms of cognitive consistency: when elements of an attitude do not fall in line, the person feels discomfort and some aspect changes towards consistency.
Option (3) Balance: two sides of the triangle are negative and one is positive — Incorrect. This describes a balanced triangle, which needs no change. Meera's triangle has two positives and one negative, so it is imbalanced, and Suresh has no triangle at all.
Option (4) Reference groups: attitudes are learnt through group or cultural norms — Incorrect. Reference groups explain how attitudes are formed through group norms. Neither case turns on a group's norms; both turn on a clash inside the person's attitude.
NCERT (2026-27): “Process of Attitude Change … |